Description Summary.

Our single engine hovercraft Velocity 25-30 passenger 2,500-3,000 Kilo payload is designed to be mass produced, priced to be competitive with a similar sized boat, offer generous cabin area with 300 degree visibility, low sound levels, can operate in sea states up to force six, in white water conditions, over surf, or amongst reefs with cruise speeds up to 70 knots. Departures with full load are normally from deep water.

Hoverflight 30 cruises at 70 Knots 1 to 5 metres above the ocean providing high speed ocean transport over smooth or rough seas. Hoverflight 30 is Velocity 30 - 3000 with the addition of wings. These wings can be removed for normal hovercraft operations as determined by mission requirements. This craft can take off and land in open ocean in force 6 sea states and in water depths of 3mm or more over reefs or mud flats.

Passengers experience unrivalled stability at sea with air cushioned comfort never found on conventional craft. Passengers travelling in Hoverflight feel little or no experience of movement.

Air conditioning, DVD entertainment on each seat, a chefs galley, toilets with the passenger option to stroll around the deck under way, moor/drift on the open ocean, lagoons, in shallow reefs for fishing, scuba diving, water skiing or just explore natures wonders around unexplored islands and rivers in water depths greater than 3mm (1/8) inch that cannot be traversed by ordinary boats.

The 600 RPM 4.23 metre (14ft) / 750 RPM 3.48 metre (10ft) diameter propeller creates such low sound levels passengers often have normal conversations within 1/2 Meter of the propeller tip when travelling on the outside deck.

These craft is designed to carry 25 or 30 passengers or a payloads up to 3000 Kilos. The hull is built of marine grade aluminium and are powered by diesel engines. The hull, lift fans, propellers, skirts, hydraulics are designed and manufactured in our workshops.

All craft are built to Australian or International survey as required.

Modular Power Unit.

One 450 HP or (600 HP for Hoverflight) radiator cooled MANN diesel is preferred for reliability and low weight. The engine, centrifugal lift fan and seven blade Pitch in Motion propeller (forward & reverse thrust in a composite duct to increase thrust efficiency and eliminate sound ) are installed as one interchangeable modular power unit. An engine speed of 2100 Rpm gives a propeller speed of 600 or 750 Rpm depending on the diameter of the propeller chosen. Steel plastic covered mesh prevents passengers or cargo from contacting propeller blades. All modular power units are interchangeable with other craft to eliminate down time.

Controls

Three controls, throttle, rudder via a steering wheel, and an electric hydraulic control lever for forward and reverse propeller pitch. Engine speed dictates the volume of air pumped under the craft creating the desired air gap and propeller pitch dictates the desired forward speed. Engine instrumentation, running lights, air conditioning, safety equipment and anchors are standard on all craft.

Flying controls for hoverflight are identical to conventional aircraft being three axis elevators, (main wing) rudders (behind propeller) and elevators (on top of propeller duct) as shown. In addition the main wing angle of attack is varied to a greater angle of attack for take off and landing at 40 knots to almost neutral for cruising at 70 knots on 65% power. The hull and passengers remain horizontal at all stages of flight.

Hull

The hull is manufactured from marine grade aluminium plate, 1.2m wide, 11.5/13.0m long 4mm thick underneath the hull and 3mm on sides and deck. This plate is bent longitudinally. The bent plate is then welded longitudinally by an automatic welding process. The four bulkheads are then welded into place forming three watertight compartments, comprising the anchor storage, cabin and engine room.

The bottom and sides of the hull is bonded to foam flotation, the shape being cut by a computer controlled wire cutter. This provides emergency flotation outstanding heat insulation and soundproofing. The cabin is welded into place, fitted out, the hull painted and the modular power units bolted into place.

Wings

Wings are manufactured from composites of foam Carbon Fibre and Kevlar for high strength, light weight and no corrosion or maintenance problems.

Skirt

The skirt is made of hyperon nylon neoprene and is a special variable pressurised chamber type designed and manufactured by Australian Hovercraft Pty Ltd. This skirt was designed to operate in rough sea conditions with a design life of 4,000 hours. Our current craft has shown no skirt wear over a two year testing program with no skirt maintenance. This design allows the hovercraft to travel high speeds in very short seas.

Cabin

Entry to the cabin is via two forward side doors down the stairway. The interior dimensions are 8.4m long, 2.3m wide with a cabin height of 1.9m. These dimensions can be changed to mission requirements. A person standing in this cabin would observe the hull height is at waist level with tinted glass from the hull height to the ceiling giving 300 degree vision to outside scenery. The interior can be fitted out to include items found on most luxury craft such as air conditioning, television, video, stereo sound system, fridge, microwave oven, sink , toilet and shower. Power is provided by a 12 volt DC invertor to give 240 AC current or an diesel alternator. Seating shown on accompanying plan shows seats on both port and starboard side of the cabin. Forward facing seats are provided on the 13 metre models.

Lounge seats shown in the plan measure 500mm by 500mm with contoured backrest. Ample legroom is available between and underneath the front seats. Much more useable space is available if business class or economy airline size seats are fitted. Male and female toilets and a galley are also shown. All seats are removable for cargo operations. The cabin is fully airconditioned with heating provided for colder climates.

Specifications

Operational

Our craft operate on/over water then dock at any jetty, mud flats, or waters edge to offload passengers or cargo. Shore to ship or ship to ship transfers are best done at a speed of 5 knots where in rough seas our hovercraft skirt will press against the ships hull allowing safe passenger and cargo transfers. The skirt is a excellent buffer and hull protector for both vessels. Operations over sand or rocks are not recommended due to possibility of sending sand into bystanders' eyes or into the propeller. Passengers on our hovercraft Lady Bernie demand a maximum speed of 5 knots over reef so they can stand outside the cabin to view reef, corral, sea grass, fish and other marine creatures. Water skiing in deep water is a must for tourism providing great fun for skiers and onlookers alike. All Passengers stand on the port or starboard side of our craft with little or no listing. Fuel consumption figures per engine manufactures specifications at 65 to 70% of full power. Engine life with excellent maintenance is between 5,000 and 18,000 hours. These figures change to various operational factors such as short trips, high engine load with many cold starts (5,000 hours), long trips or continuous operations where the engine is always hot with constant power settings (18,000). Quality servicing eliminates down time and extends engine and component life to reduce operational costs.

Environment

Cruising speeds of 10 knots or more creates waves of 3mm inch, causing no erosion to river banks.

The propeller at cruising speed is 750/600 Rpm or less creates a low frequency sound that dissipates over a short distance. Tests done with dolphins, sea lions, and birds at nesting colonies have proven our hovercraft can get twice as close to the animals as a boat of the same size (with an outboard motor) before the behaviour of these animals changes.

Passengers often stay on the bow, side decks or rear deck while the craft is moving and have been unconcerned with the sound levels.

The skirt design allows people standing in waist deep water to have the hovercraft pass over the top of them at 5 knots without injury. A diver 5 ft under the water cannot hear the craft pass over him.

Survey

Hovercraft and Hoverflight are classified as marine craft and are surveyed by Det Norskje Veritas (DNV) , American Burueo of Shiping (ABS) or Commonwealth of Australia Marine Survey. Survey is not required for private pleasure craft.

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James' Hovercraft Site is not affiliated in any way with any organisations, such as The Hovercraft Museum, Hoverspeed, Sea Containers, British Airways, etc. Please note that I am not connected with sellers of hovercraft featured on the Buying Page of this site, I am just hosting their craft for their own use.

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