Boats - Sailing - Ships

Aug. 08, 1968 - Trials of Manned model of VT1 Hovercraft.: Trials are taking place Portchester, near Southampton, of Vosper Thornycroft's VT-1m hovercraft trials and development vehicle. The VT-1M is a 40% linear scale model of VT1, the Group's first hovercraft design being 37ft. long by 17 ft wide, as compared with 96ft 4 43ft. for the full-size VT1. The trials machine weighs 5 tons and is powered by two 130-h.p. Porsche petrol engines, for propulsion through the two water propellers carried on the skegs under the hull, and by two 70-h.p. Volkswagen engines for lift. The structure is marine plywood. For preliminary trials VT-1M will carry two crew. The main purpose of VT1M is to enable a study to be made of the handling aspects and the response of the craft to the controls with a pilot in change. Another main line of investigation with this development vehicle will be the study of behaviour in waves, to confirm the results of tanks tests on a small (one tenth linear scale) model carried out at Hythe bby the National Physical Laboratory's Hovercraft Unit. Vosper Thornycroft are not holding up construction of the full-sined VT1 for the results of these trials. VT1 is due to be complete and ready for trials by the summer of 1969. Photo shows the VT-1M- scale model of the VT! - seen undergoing trials at Portchester

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Aspects Behaviour Compared Confirm Controls Enable Full-size Handling Hovercraft Hull Hythe Investigation Lift Linear Manned Petrol Plywood Porsche Portchester Preliminary Propellers Propulsion Purpose Response Results Southampton Tests Thornycroft Tons Undergoing Volkswagen Vosper Weighs

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > KEY