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Hoverflight 85


Velocity 85 passenger hover flight surface effect craft. View last picture as we have changed design to conventional wing layout.

This drawing can be downloaded and inserted into Microsoft Word in A2 formatted for printing in detail. Last picture shows conventional wing layout we shall build to fly out of ground effect.

 

This drawing can be downloaded and inserted into Microsoft Word in A2 formatted for printing in detail. Last picture shows conventional wing layout we shall build to fly out of ground effect.

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This is the ground effect craft we shall build to international marine survey. Cruises at 70 Knots above the waves to land on swells of 2 metres or in force six conditions. The skirt acts as suspension on landing in rough waters as per normal offshore hovercraft.

Key Benefits

bulletFuel Consumption 1/3 compared to conventional boat at same speed and payload with very low maintenance costs.
bulletShip to Shore Transfers over  Heavy White Water Surf conditions, over reef, to any beach or jetty in water depths of 1mm or more.
bulletVery Low Sound Levels, Ultra Smooth Ride, Luxury Transport, In Air Conditioned Comfort  ensures Repeat Fare Paying Passengers for high profitability in Charter Operations.
bulletFit out to client requirements. Interior designer of client choice recommended.

Pricing

Description Passengers Payload Price
Hoverflight 85 85 6.4 tone $3.5 Million

VELOCITY 65 - 5500  Twin Deck  VELOCITY 85 - 7500 Single Deck   HOVERFLIGHT 85 

Single Deck Description Summary. 

The three versions of this craft 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 of 40 knots and a maximum speed of 70 knots. Departures with full load are normally from deep water. 

VELOCITY 65 - 5500 Twin Deck The corporate/luxury version of this hovercraft has an upper and lower cabins. The upper cabin has four bedrooms with built in robes, a toilet, a shower and lounge. The lower cabin has crew accommodation with two single beds in one bedroom a toilet, chefs galley with a large conference room for forty guests. 

VELOCITY 85 - 7500 Single Deck The commercial single deck vessel is designed to carry up to 85 passengers in one cabin or a payload of 7500 Kilos for cargo operations. 

HOVERFLIGHT 85 Single Deck Hoverflight 85 cruises at 70 Knots 1 to 5 metres above the ocean providing high speed ocean transport over smooth or rough seas. 

Hoverflight 85 is Velocity 85 -7500 with the addition of wings. These wings can be removed for normal hovercraft operations as determined by mission requirements. 

This craft will 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. 

All hovercraft are built of marine grade aluminum and are powered by 1300 HP MANN diesel engines. 

The hull, lift fans, propellers, skirts, hydraulics are designed and manufactured in our workshops. Passengers experience unrivalled stability at sea with air cushioned comfort never found on conventional craft. 

Passengers traveling 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 two 600 RPM 4.23 metre (14ft) diameter propellers creates such low sound levels passengers often have normal conversations within 1/2 Meter of the propeller tip when traveling on the outside deck. These craft is designed to carry up to 85 passengers or a payloads up to 7500 Kilos. The hull is built of marine grade aluminums. 

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. 

Twin Modular Power Units. 

One MANN 1300 HP radiator cooled diesel is preferred for reliability and low weight for each modular power unit. 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 in each interchangeable modular power unit. An engine speed of 2100 Rpm gives a propeller and centrifugal lift fan speed of 600 Rpm. 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. 

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 hours). 

Quality servicing eliminates down time and extends engine and component life to reduce operational costs. 

Controls 

Three controls, throttle, rudder via a steering wheel, and an electric hydraulic control lever for forward and reverse propeller pitch. Engine RPM 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 aluminum plate, 1.2m wide, 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 pressurized 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 Corporate-Luxury Hovercraft-Twin Deck 

Entry to the lower cabin is via two side doors stairway. The interior dimensions are 14.3 metres long, 7.3 metres wide with a cabin height of 1.9 metres. The interior of this cabin shown on our plans includes one bedroom with a two single beds, the second bed above the lower bed, a galley, a toilet and seating for forty guests in the conference room. 

The seating may arranged around the circumference of the cabin or with forward facing seats or arranged as per client specifications. Access is gained to the upper cabin area via an electric hydraulic lowered stairway. This stairway retracts to ceiling height in the lower cabin and level to the floor in the upper cabin. This arrangement allows more useable space and better visibly for both levels. 

The upper cabin area has a private lounge facing forward. Each bedroom as a queen size double bed and robe. The passage way gives access to all bedrooms toilet and shower. A person standing in all cabin areas would observe the hull height is at waist level with tinted glass from the hull height to the ceiling allowing exceptional vision to outside scenery. 

The interior of both the commercial and corporate hovercraft can be fitted out to include items found on most luxury craft such as air conditioning, Inter cabin communications, Television, Video, Stereo sound system (tape and compact disk), Fridge, Microwave oven, Sink, Dishwasher, Toilet and Shower. Computer, Fax, and Communication systems. Power is provided by a 12 volt DC invertor to give 240 AC current and or diesel alternator. 

The drawing included (drawn to scale) details the spacious seating layout of both the commercial and corporate hovercraft. The seats shown in the drawing measure .5m X .5m with a wrap around back rest. These are especially built in Perth for Australian Hovercraft Pty Ltd. Leather is the preferred covering material for the corporate hovercraft. Smaller aircraft style seats with a more compact seating arrangement will provide a much larger area in the cabin for other uses. Cabin 

Commercial Hovercraft - Hoverflight 85 

Entry to the cabin is via two forward side doors down the stairway. The interior dimensions are 14.3m long, 7.3m 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. 

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 air-conditioned with heating provided for colder climates. 

Specifications 

                                                 Luxury Twin Deck    Commercial Single Deck    Hoverflight 85                                                            Metres                             Metres                             Metres 

Hull length                                          25                                      25                                     25 

Hull Width                                            8.50                                   8.50                                  8.50 

Cabin Length                                     15.40                                15.40                                15.40 

Cabin Width                                        7.30                                   7.30                                  7.30 

Cabin Height                                       1.90                                   1.90                                  1.90 

Freeboard                                           1.57                                   1.57                                   1.57 

Propeller Diameter                             4.23                                   4.23                                  4.23 

Hull distance above water                 1.00                                    1.00                                 1 

Empty Weight Ton                              9.50 +                                8.50 +                             10.50 

Payload Ton                                        5.50                                   7.50                                  7.50 

Maximum speed Kts                         70                                       70                                      80 

Normal Cruise Kts                             40+                                     40+                                   70 

Passenger Nos.                                 40                                       85                                     85 

Specifications may change without notice 

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, coral, 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. 

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 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 behavior 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.

Expected Cash Flows From Operations:                                                                            Passenger Fare                      $150 USD                                                                                    Average Passenger No's      x 80                                                                                                Revenue Per Flight           $12,000 USD                                                                                         Flights Per Day                        x 5                                                                                                    Income Per Day                  $60,000 USD                                                                                    Operating Days / Year        X 300 Days                                                                                    Revenue Per Year     $18,000,000 USD                                                                                    Hovercraft Expenses $5,400,000  Historically At 30%                                                                                                                                  

Net Profit Before Tax  $12,600.000

Expenses include: wages, depreciation, fuel, maintenance, interest, insurance, sales costs.                                                                                                                           

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                                                                           Contact Information

Michael Fane CPA
B.Bus (Acct'g & B.Law)
Managing Director - Hovercraft Engineer
 
Telephone         61 8 92910877
Fax                      61 8 92910977
Postal address  P.O. Box 692, Lesmurdie, Perth
                    Western Australia. 6926
Electronic mail
Information/Sales: [email protected]
Send mail to [email protected] with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2001 Australian Hovercraft Pty Ltd
Last modified: December 09, 2002