Hover Pallets and Trailers
Page 11
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THE movement of heavy pallets by air cushioning was forecast by Mr. G. G. Harding, transport manager, motorbus department, County Borough of Wallasey, in a paper "Some Thoughts on Air Cushioncraft " presented at a meeting of The Institute of Transport, Midland section, on Tuesday. The movement of small buildings over uneven ground by the same means was also envisaged by him.
During the discussion Mr. Harding mentioned the possibility of the cushion principle being applied to a platform carrying a heavy load which would be towed by a conventional tractor, the advantage being in even weight distri bution on the road surface when negotiating a bridge, with a consequent increase in the useful weight the bridge would carry, A member of the Institute stated that two companies were developing air cushion trailers of this type and later Mr. Harding mentioned the interest of the Forestry Commission in applying the principle to the movement of heavy logs.
In a review of future developments Mr. Harding said that the cost of operating a heavier machine of around 100 tons carrying 400 passengers at 80 knots would be 31d. per mile per passenger; the life of the Hovercraft would be about 10 years..