Summary
Our Velocity and Hoverflight hovercraft are 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 40 knots Departures with full load are normaly from deep
water, unlike most other hovercraft.
The Hoverflight Hovercraft with wings are in fact ground-effect
machines that cruise at 70 Knots 1 to 5 metres above the ocean
providing high speed ocean transport over smooth or rough seas. The
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
Passengers experience unrivalled stability at sea with air cushioned
comfort not found on conventional craft, while those travelling in the Hoverflight
models feel little or no experience of movement, with the hull and passengers remaining
horizontal in all stages of flight. All our craft have all modern
comforts including climate control air conditioning, DVD entertainment,
full chefs galley and bathroom facilities.
Passengers also have the option to stroll around the deck while the
craft is under way, but as in aircraft it is safest to remain in seated
during normal operations.
Propulsion
Fuel consumption figures per engine manufacture 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).
Wings on Hoverflights
Wings are manufactured from composites of foam, carbon fibre and
kevlar for high strength, light weight, minimizing corrosion and maintenance
problems. See our section on wings-in-ground
effect.
Skirts
Skirts are made of hyperon nylon neoprene in a special variable
pressurized chamber type designed and manufactured by Australian
Hovercraft Pty Ltd. Designed to travel at high speeds in
very short 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. Our skirt is a excellent buffer and hull
protector.
Controls
Velocity hovercraft have 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 while propeller pitch dictates the desired
forward speed.
Hoverflight controls 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.
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 700 RPM
, creating a low frequency sound that dissipates over a
short distance. Tests done with dolphins, sea lions, and birds at nesting colonies
have proven that our hovercraft can get twice as close to the animals as a
boat of the same size (with an outboard motor).
Our craft operate on / over water then dock at any jetty, mud flats, or
waters edge to offload passengers or cargo. Ship to shore or ship to
ship transfers are easily completed. 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 them.
Survey
Hovercraft and Hoverflight are classified as marine craft and are
built to IMO specifications, surveyed by Det Norskje Veritas (DNV) , American Bureau of Shipping (ABS),
Germanischer Lloyd (GL) or Commonwealth of Australia Marine Survey - or
surveyor of your choice.
NB: Survey is not required for
private pleasure craft.
All craft hulls built to IMO
specifications
Specifications may be change to suit
customers requirements
