Busman's Holiday
Page 49
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Hover-vehicles Across the Mersey?
AR. GEOFFREY HARDING, general IVI manager of Wallasey Corporation Motor Bus Department, has spent 500 hours of his spare time building a model of a 200-seat hover-launch. Weighing 2 lb., it is powered by two I c.c engines of the type used in model aeroplanes. One engine drives the lift fan and enables it to hover at a height of about half an inch. The second engine, which is fitted with an airscrew, propels the craft.
Having gained some knowledge of the problems involved, Mr. Harding is hoping to develop a four-passenger hover-launch powered by two motorcycle engines which could be used for beach rescue patrol.
The Wallasey Corporation Passenger Transport Committee operates ferries across the Mersey under the control of the ferries general manager, as well as buses. Although Mr. Harding's hoverlaunch activities are entirely a hobby, the committee is keeping in touch with developments with 'a view to the possibility of using craft of this type as ferries. Visits to the works of SaundersRoe and Vickers have been paid by the ferries manager.