Boats - Sailing - Ships

Jun. 06, 1961 - Britain's first Hovership - makes its Public debut, It just floats across top of the water.70 Passengers; Britain's first Hovership - built by William Denny an Brothers Ltd. in collaboration with Hovercraft Development Ltd. made its first public debut yesterday - on Gareloch, near Dumbarton. The 4 1/2 ton machine is the first phase of an intensive research program being undertaken to produce a passenger carrying hoverferry b y next year. It is the first of the side wall hovercraft primarily for marine purposes and differs from other experimental hovercraft types in that its side walls remain continuously in water and the machine never really becomes fully airborne, although its weight is supported by the air cushion. It is built of plywood and sheet steel and measures 60 ft x 10 ft. and normally manned by a crew of three, a pilot and two instrument observer. The side walls retain t he air cushion under the craft and the cushion is contained at each end by a certain formed by a thin jet air forced downwards and inwards along the full width of the craft between the walls. Forward propulsion of the machine is provided by two Mercury 300 outboard motors with variable pitch propellers - each developing 35 bhp whilethe fans is provided by two 3 cylinder two stroke excelsior engines, each developing 25 bhp. A speed of 35 knots is aimed at for safe navigation of rivers and estuaries. The maximum speed of the research vehicle is in the region of 15-17 knots. Photo Shows View at speed of the Hovership on Gareloch, near Dumbarton

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Aimed Airborne Although Becomes Certain Collaboration Contained Continuously Cushion Cylinder Debut Denny Developing Differs Downwards Dumbarton Estuaries Excelsior Experimental Floats Forced Formed Fully Gareloch Hovercraft Intensive Inwards Knots Manned Maximum Measures Mercury Motors Normally Observer Outboard Pitch Plywood Primarily Produce Propellers Propulsion Provided Purposes Really Remain Retain Safe Stroke Supported Undertaken Variable Width

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