Dear Air Cushion Vehicle enthusiast,
The Queensland branch held a planning meeting at the SAAA hall at Archerfield Aerodrome on
Tuesday, 18th March 2008 which was attended by Des Goss, Phillip Audsley, Angus Kerr, Peter
Venn, Arthur Stead, Tony Hogben and Steven Odgaard.
Vale - Arthur Gangell.
Sadly, we report that our dear collegue Arthur Gangell lost his fight with cancer on Sunday 9th
March 2008. We extend our deepest sympathy for Gerda, Irene, Trudy and Matt over the loss of
their partner, brother, father and father in-law, and to all those fortunate enough to have cruised
with Arthur over the months following his first trip with us in May 2007.
Cruise report - Muriel Street, Redland Bay - Saturday 15th March 2008.
The last cruise was on Saturday 15th March starting from the back yard of Peter Venn's place in
Muriel Street, Redland Bay. Taking part in this cruise were:-
Des Goss - Turbo Wedge 225
Peter Ledwoch and Ann Dickinson - Simple Cyclone
Peter Venn and Rusty Moore - Turbo TP6
Neville Bennett - Turbo Vortex
David Venn - Hoverjet
Steven Odgaard - Billy Baker 2.
Des, Peter & Ann, Peter & Rusty, launched at 9:20 am and formed a floating Ceremony in Lagoon
Passage to release a floral wreath and card signed by club members, in honour of Arthur Gangell
who passed away last week in the Canossa Hospital at Seventeen Mile Rocks.
The wreath
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The wreath
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Farewell Arthur G.
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The three cruisers then departed for a cruise up the Logan River. David Venn in the Hoverjet, and
Steven Odgaard with a Bill Baker Vehicle 2, stayed behind due to engine problems. David tried to
adjust his thrust engine on the Hoverjet but couldn't quite hold his lip right for sustained power.
Neville Bennett with his Turbo Vortex arrived from Evans Head in NSW soon after, delayed by
roadworks on the Logan motorway after a detour to Lowood enroute. Neville set off on his own
around 9:30 am and caught up with the other three craft at the Eagleby boat ramp near the
Pacific Highway bridge.
All four craft returned at about midday after a safe trip to the Pacific Highway bridge at Eagleby
and Loganholme.
Thanks again to Peter for the wonderful venue.
Mick Rutterman from Coochiemudlo Island came along for a visit and reports that he has not yet
sold his craft, and may even decide to keep it for some future cruises with the club. Mick said a J4
craft is looking for a good home to go to.
Contact Rob Hawxwell (07) 3824 4004 at 29 Deans Road, Alexandra Hills.
This timber craft has a 3hp lift engine on the nose and a 20hp Sachs engine driving a box fan
system. (Two fans on a common shaft drawing air into a pressure chamber for release rearward
under reversing scoops.)
An article written May 1969 shows the J4 successfully completing a crossing of the English
Channel from Gorey in Jersey, CI., to Carteret in Brittany on Sunday 4th May.
Quote:
Commanded by Peter Gooch, he became the first to make a channel crossing to
France in an amateur air cushion vehicle under its own power. Peter Gooch made the
trip in 1 hour and 5 minutes. Fortified by a couple of stiff cognacs at an hotel on
Carteret quayside, he clipped 25 minutes off the outward time by returning in 40 minutes.
The race to become the first to France was spurred on a little by an item in Hovercraft
World of April 1969 to the effect that Charles Westmoreland intended to have a go at
the Channel crossing in a Hoverhawk and was just waiting for suitable weather.
Unquote and back to the present.
20th Anniversary of Expo 88:-
The club has accepted an invitation to participate in the 20th Anniversary of Expo 88 with a
hovercraft display on the Brisbane River in front of the Southbank Parklands around 5:00 pm on
10th May 2008.
Winsome Anderson has been invited to speak about each craft and commander over the
Southbank PA system while the craft are in the display zone. We wish to have a couple of
rehearsals so that Winsome can get to know you; and to be prepared for crowded spectator craft
situations, ship to shore communications, possible event delays and where to start and finish etc…
Rehearsal - Saturday, 26th April 2008. 10:00 am. Incoming tide.
Rehearsal - Sunday, 4th May 2008. 10:00 am. Outgoing tide.
Saturday, 10thMay 2008. 5:00 pm. Outgoing tide.
News from NSW:-
Karl and Judy Bowman have announced possible dates for Camp Quality at Myuna Bay on Lake
Macquarie in the Newcastle region. Date to be set.
There are 3 options this year.
Dads and Lads Camp – 16th to 18th May – a camp just for the boys – fathers and their sons.
Star Camp – 30th May till 1st June – a camp for families who have lost a child to Cancer.
Family Camp – 29th to 31st August – a camp for all the family – mum, dad and kids.
Moreton Bay Marine Park:-
According to the Draft Zoning Plan for new regulations being introduced later this year, permits will be required to operate a hovercraft anywhere in Moreton Bay. Over the past five years around 80% of our cruises have been held on Moreton Bay, and if the restrictions placed on the permit are anything like the restrictions placed on Neville Bennett's permit for operating around Magnetic Island in North Queensland, our cruising areas will be almost non-existant. The areas requiring permits for hovercraft have been steadily increasing in recent years and when these regulations become law, virtually all coastal cruising areas from the Queensland border to Cape York will require permits.
The club has sent a detailed submission to the Environmental Protection Agency questioning the need for a permit to operate the world's most environmentally friendly vessel in an area where conventional boats and jet skies can operate unhindered, and we await their response.
Next club cruise:-
The next club cruise will be held on Saturday 5th April 2008 at Oyster Point, Cleveland.
So if you are feeling good on the morning of the 5th April, then come for a cruise down Phelan
Street, Cleveland at around 9:00 am. At low tide you can drive a stone’s throw further, and if you
bring a hovercraft you can go right to the water’s edge.
A trip to Coochiemudlo Island is only 7 kilometres and with the cooler Autumn climate, the bay
breezes should be kinder to our passage. Bring some pocket money for lunch at Matthew Flinder’s
café near the park to the east of the jetty.
Please steer clear of bathers and stay around 6 knots if you approach the moored sailing vessels.
UBD Reference - Map 186 D20.
Contact for the event is Steven Odgaard on 0400 798 404.
Next Queensland branch meeting:
7:30 pm - Tuesday, 15th April 2008.
SAAA hall at Archerfield Aerodrome.
Beatty Road Qld 4108.
Regards
Steven Odgaard
QSH secretary
