Dear Air Cushion Vehicle enthusiast,
The Queensland branch held their last planning meeting for the year at the Sporting Aircraft
Association of Australia hall at Archerfield Aerodrome on Monday, 20th November 2006. This was
attended by Phillip Audsley, Des Goss, Angus Kerr, Peter Venn, Arthur Stead, Steven Odgaard,
and Neville and Diane Finlay from the SES in Toogoolawah.
Cruise report - Pimpama River / McCoy Creek, Coomera - Sunday 12th November 2006.
The last cruise was held at Pimpama River on Sunday 12th November 2006 and was attended by
Des Goss in his maroon Turbo Wedge 225,
Peter Ledwoch, Ann Dickinson with friend Romano in a Simple Cyclone,
Steven Odgaard in a Bill Baker 2
We met at the Coleman Road boat ramp and launched into McCoys Creek for a cruise around the
Pimpama Delta. Des and Peter with invited guest Romano travelled north to Jacobs Well, then
returned along the exposed side of Woongoolpah Island, only Peter and Romano took an
unexpected detour across the busy shipping lane to land on South Stradbroke Island near Couran
Cove. Unfortunately with the burst of extra power needed to negotiate the rough water in the
sea-lane, Peter encountered some permanent piston damage to his finely tuned Yamaha PE485
engine. Despite desperate attempts to restart the engine after it had cooled down, he was
unable to move the craft from the waters edge on the inviting sandy beach, and the incoming tide
caused havoc as the engine bay was swamped every time a large vessel passed by in the busy
Gold Coast lane between Surfers Paradise and Tippler’s resort / Jumpinpin Bar. Des and Steven
were powerless to offer any assistance with a strong northwesterly wind building strength in the
afternoon.
Des travelled up and down the lee flank of Woongoolpah, but was unable to attempt a crossing of
the sea-lane which was whipped up by wind and heavy sea-lane traffic.
Luckily for Peter and Romano, a phone call from a nearby tourist office on the island saw the VMR
come to his aid from their nearby station at Jacobs Well and after a slow tow at wallowing speed,
the pair returned safely to the launch spot at about 4pm. A hull mat would have been an
advantage, but in its absence every rear skirt segment was torn from it lower attachment point by
the pressure of water from being towed too quickly when they first left the beach. Peter is a
contributing sponsor of the VMR and was lucky to avoid a hefty towing fee by the presentation of
his membership card.
Peter and Ann took the stricken craft to Doctor Dan at St Venn-cents hovercraft hospital that
evening for urgent attention to save the engine against attack from the corrosive effects of sea
water which had possibly entered the crankcase.
They hope to be cruising again with the club by early next year.
Other News:-
Peter Venn gave us a report on the Hummingbird at the last meeting and it is still a few more
months away from completion. Peter believes that he should have ordered a school bus from Bill
Baker in the UK instead. It would have been more expensive, but at least he would be the proud
owner of an operational craft well before now.
Lake Cargelligo Video:-
On a brighter note, Arthur Stead has produced a splendid DVD of the national rally at Lake
Cargelligo and copies can be purchased for $15. For every copy sold, $5 will be donated to the
QSH and a further $5 to the AHF leaving $5 to help cover production costs.
With musical accompaniment to the comprehensive video coverage of the event and fine artistic cover, a copy
of Arthur’s handy work would make an ideal Christmas gift.
Forward your order with payment to :-
Queensland Sporting Hovercraft club
52 Utrecht Street
Cornubia
Qld 4130.
or
AHF Victorian branch c/o Tony Westwood at Boxhill branch meetings
or
phone Arthur Stead direct Ph 07 33483284
Next club cruise:-
The next club cruise will be held on Saturday 9th December 2006 at The Spit on Somerset Dam.
This will be a Christmas party with the SES groups from Esk, Toogoolawah and Nanango.
Meet at Fernvale on the Brisbane Valley Highway at 8:30 am Saturday 9th December 2006, and
travel in convoy the remaining 50 kilometres to launch at the spit before 10:00 am.
Neville and Dianne Finlay from the Toogoolawah SES have attended our Archerfield meetings
twice and have donated $200 to the QSH club and asked if we can carry Santa Claus to the spit
from a nearby slay landing strip.
The mayor of Esk and some of the councillors may also need a ride to experience our amphibious
capabilities.
The donation will be used to purchase fuel for the day and in addition the SES have organised our
permits for the use of the lake with the South East Queensland water corporation with a copy
sent to the Somerset ranger.
The Toogoolawah SES have invited us to partake of a complimentary lunch and to enjoy the
watery Christmas cheer with many children in the group.
Contact for the event is Steven Odgaard on 0400 798 404.
Next Queensland branch meeting:-
7:30 pm - Tuesday, 16th January 2007.
SAAA hall at Archerfield Aerodrome.
Beatty Road Qld 4108.
Regards
Steven Odgaard
QSH secretary