HOW BRITAIN CAN STAY FIVE YEARS AHEAD IN TRACKED HOVERCRAFT

This article gives an account of progress that has been made in the research and development of tracked hovercraft. The work carried out by the Tracked Hovercraft Company (THL) is discussed. Its aim is to investigate the economic and technical potential of a high speed ground transportation system using air cushion suspension and linear induction drive. THL found that the air cushion was viable but noisy, and failed to prove the worth of the system. The author also describes the work of a number of organizations who continued the work under research contracts to the government, when THL's work ceased, and activities of other organizations including the Universities of Sussex and Warwick. The work covers both suspension systems (air cushion and magnetic) and linear motors. After discussing the possible future of the THL test track at Earith, the author concludes by refering to work being carried out overseas. Particular reference is made to the work of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the French Aerotrain, and a Canadian Minitram contract near Ontario. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00137782
• Corporate Authors:

  Engineering, Chemical and Marine Press, Limited

  33-39 Bowling Green Lane
  London EC1P 1AH,   England 
• Authors:
  • McCallum, P
• Publication Date: 1974-9-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 48-50
• Serial:
  • ENGINEERING
  • Volume: 239
  • Issue Number: 6183
  • Publisher: GILLARD WELCH LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0013-7782

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air cushion vehicles; Economic factors; Economics; Future; High occupancy vehicle lanes; Linear systems; Magnetic levitation; Magnetic properties; Noise; Organizations; Public transit; Rapid transit; Right of way (Traffic); Technology; Tracked air cushion vehicles; Transportation; Transportation modes; Universities and colleges; Universities and colleges
• Geographic Terms: Canada; France; United Kingdom; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Tracked air cushion vehicle noise; Tracked systems
• Subject Areas: Economics; Education and Training; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096678
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 1981 12:00AM