Dear Air Cushion Vehicle enthusiast,
The Queensland branch held a planning meeting at the SAAA hall at Archerfield Aerodrome on
Monday, 17th April 2006 which was attended by Des Goss, Phillip Audsley, Angus Kerr, Peter
Venn, Arthur Stead and Steven Odgaard.
Cruise report - Pimpama River / McCoy Creek junction - Sunday, 2nd April 2006.
The monthly cruise was held at the Pimpama River on Sunday, 2nd April with 4 craft in attendance.
Des Goss had his trusty fleet commanding maroon Turbo Wedge 225
Phillip Audsley in the yellow Turbo Wedge 225
Angus Kerr had his RevTech Rocket (back from the Berlin World Championship)
Steven Odgaard with a no-go maroon Billy Baker Vehicle 2
Des, Phillip and Angus launched in the Pimpama River at the McCoy Creek junction and travelled
north past Woogoompah Island, Dinner Island, Jacobs Well, Rudy Maas, Steiglitz and Cabbage
Tree Point. At Tabby Tabby Island they turned east and travelled down the Mosquito Passage to
Eden Island then across the five ways and south through Whalleys Gutter to return to the
Pimpama mouth via Tippler’s Passage and the Never Fail Islands.
It is possible to get lost through this maze of islands and passages, but with Angus’ expert
knowledge of the area a scenic trip was safely orienteered and all craft returned without mishap
or delay.
Angus had his RevTech Rocket back from the Berlin World Championship event only 2 weeks and
everyone had a go at the controls near the boat ramp. I was reluctant to give the Rocket full
throttle as it has a tendency to flip upside down at high speed without proper experience with the
elevator trim control. Even when starting from a dead stop, the force of the air flow at full throttle
is enough to rip earmuffs and cap off your head at 1.2 metres in front of the fan.
Along for the visit were John, Stephanie and Preston Coll, Kerri Audsley and Steven Odgaard with
a go-no-where Bill Baker 2. Teenager Preston was thrilled at his high acceleration ride in Angus’s
craft and Stephanie had the last and best ride of all with a steep hill climb from the boat ramp to a
terrace overlooking the picturesque Pimpama Valley.
Queensland Club News:-
Arthur Stead has proposed a celebration in October 2006 to mark the Queensland club's 20th
anniversary as an incorporated association. The Queensland club was first incorporated as
Queensland Amateur Sporting Hovercraft Inc on 10th October 1986. It later changed it's name to
Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Inc on 18th July 1989 and then later joined the Australian
Hovercraft Federation Inc as a branch and was deincorporated in Queensland on 19th Sept 2002.
Arthur has also prepared a web page for the Queensland club and he presented it at Monday's
meeting for ratification.
It will be sponsored with thanks to Peter Venn - Silverline Insulation.
It is not on line yet, but should be by the May meeting.
The AHF website is updated by Tony Westwood of Victoria.
see: www.aushover.tk
News from Central Queensland:-
From: gordon wright
To: steven odgaard
Subject: Something new for Mackay.
Dear Steve,
You might be interested to have a look at the following site .........
(www.f1hoverpodracing.com.)
I happened to be in the right place and the right time yesterday when I heard the
'HoverPod' at Shoal Point. So I went along to investigate, and was introduced to the two
partners who are going to set up a 'HoverPod' business here in Mackay, as an offshoot to
the main concern in the UK. We spent an afternoon touring around the beaches in the
Hovercraft they had brought along to create interest and I was able to show them a lot of
the local area which I know well.
The hovercraft they brought along was very well constructed and performed exceptionally
well, using a 51 HP Rotax engine and was extremely economical on fuel considering the
time we spent exploring beaches here and traversing many areas of the sea.
Their Home pages on the internet are of course from the UK, but they have contacts in
most states in Australia.
Kind regards
Gordon
News from NSW:-
Peter Venn may have his first trial of the Viper Hummingbird at the end of May 2006 at Huskisson
NSW. Michael Nell is nearing completion of the project and is gathering speed with enthusiasm
of the new craft taking shape.
News from Victoria:-
Peter Streader is the co-ordinator for the 2006 Australian National Rally.
The rally is proposed for 23rd/24th September 2006 at Lake Cargelligo - inland central NSW.
The Victorian branch held its AGM on the 8th March 2006.
New committee:-
Tony Westwood - President
Colin Dainty - Vice President
Stuart Wale - Secretary
Paul Mott - Assistant Secretary
Reece Isaac - Treasurer
Ken Osmond - Schools Programme
Robert Forbes - Schools craft construction
Paul Dempsey - Safety Officer
Peter Streader - Head Organiser National Rally
Next Queensland club cruise:-
The next club cruise will be at Oyster Point, Cleveland on Sunday, 30th April 2006.
Meet at the park via Phelan Street for a 9:00 am launch.
Next Queensland branch meeting:-
7:30pm - Monday, 15th May 2006.
SAAA hall at Archerfield Aerodrome.
Beatty Road Qld 4108.
Regards
Steven Odgaard
QSH secretary