April 2011
Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club
A branch of the AUSTRALIAN HOVERCRAFT FEDERATION Inc (Vic)
Dear Air Cushion Vehicle enthusiast,
The Queensland branch of The Australian Hovercraft Federation held a planning meeting on Tuesday,
19th April 2011, in the Staff Room at Our Lady of Fatima RC primary school, 350
Mortimer Road Acacia Ridge.
This meeting was attended by:-
| Vice President:- | Des Goss |
| Treasurer:- | Phillip Audsley |
| Secretary:- | Steven Odgaard |
Other members attending were Peter Venn, Angus Kerr, Arthur Stead, Dale Baxter and Rod Jensen.
Visitors for the evening were Rita Chaffey and Dan Logovic.
Cruise report - Muriel Street, Redland Bay, Saturday 16th April 2011.
This cruise was held on Saturday 16th April 2011 from 96 Muriel Street, Redland Bay courtesy of Peter Venn. Those attending the cruise were:-
Peter Venn - Turbo TP6 powered by a Subaru 1800 & Honda twin cylinder.
Arthur Stead - Revtech Renegade powered by a 20hp Honda.
Des Goss - Simple Cyclone powered by a 51hp Yamaha PE485.
Steven Odgaard - Expo Turbo powered by a 51hp Yamaha PE485.
Dale Baxter - Kawasaki Jet Ski.
The day started at 9:00am at Muriel Street Redland Bay with a launch from Peter and Elaine Venn’s place by the 5 craft. The jet ski was launched first, then the four hovercraft slid down the boat ramp and we all glided along the river together until the tall pine when Peter radioed home, then sent Dale back to collect some design plans he had intended to take for Ross to check out.
We had a smooth run up the Redland Bay Passage and the Logan River up past Bob’s boat hire and Logan Cable-ski park. At this stage the tide was favourable for an easy landing on Ross’ river terrace.
Ross McLeod gave us a cordial welcome to his Airlift Marine factory on 7½ acres of lush riverside property. The factory has at least 6 assembly stations for various hovercraft models, a metal working machine shop, a ship builders carpentry shop, a paint shop, a skirt sewing station, an instrument station, an engine testing and rebuild station, a hydraulics section, a fan blade and fan hub sub-assembly station, a components store, a chemical store, a CAM machining centre, a Pro-Engineer Cad drawing office, a sales and contracts office, upstairs living quarters with grand views to the Logan River, an entertainment and luncheon gazebo and a modest and tidy garden landscape.
After a comprehensive guided tour and delightful luncheon with family, friends, employees and VIP customers, we set about the serious business of giving hovercraft joyrides for one and all. Unfortunately the river level had receded nearly 2.5 metres leaving a 45 degree mud embankment slippery slide to negotiate. Des took several passengers in the Simple Cyclone and Peter Venn took everyone else. Steven only managed one passenger before losing 5 skirt segments in an argument with a stick in the mud on the opposite river bank and Arthur had to refrain after an engine mount dampener tore.
Earlier in the day Steven took an employee and family for a successful run up to the Albert River junction. Damien Biggs, Connor Biggs and Ken had to leave before lunch but were keen to partake in the joys of a small hovercraft ride before their hasty departure.
Arthur Stead and Steven Odgaard were sitting back enjoying a few lamb chops when Peter Venn took his first passenger over the steep edge and into the Logan River at a very low tide. The large fan duct abruptly disappeared below the line of sight from the Gazebo to the edge of the terrace. We were quite astonished by this phenomenon and realised how deep the boat ramp drop off had become in just three hours. Perhaps we should have given the rides before the factory tour.
At 3:00pm the large group moved towards the river bank and the fun began. Peter took almost everyone for a ride single handed in his Turbo TP6 and Des was busy in his Simple Cyclone too. Steven took Datte for a ride but managed to snag 5 front skirt segments on a stick in the mud on the far river bank. Thanks to Arthur and Des who helped with the skirt replacements for a safe trip home.
This was one of our club’s most educational tours.
To name names:-
Host Ross McLeod, Partner - Jan Taylor, Sister in law - Karen, Mother - Marie Bromwell, Step Dad
- Tony Bromwell, Daughter and receptionist - Leilani McLeod, Boyfriend - Koji Maki, Friends of
Marie - David and June, IT technician and ProE designer - Datte Hegde.
VIP quests:-
German Army representatives from Aachen near Cologne looking at a possible order of 60
hovercraft (Airlift Marine Kaimann P42 model) - Marco Schröder, George Severich, Birgit Schröder
and Christel Schröder.
Dale had a slight floatation problem with the Jetski and had no option but to park it on the mud ramp. This caused it to cake up at the water inlet. After a short swim, Dale managed to clear the blockage and was able to cruise home at a comfortable rate of knots.
Click on the next and previous buttons below to see a selection of the photos taken at Airlift
Marine during the cruise and tour of the hovercraft factory.
A crowd of prawners had gathered in the Redland Bay Channel before we launched
Dale Baxter was out on the water first on his Kawasaki jet ski
Ross McLeod greets us at the top of the ramp at Airlift Marine
The massive Pioneer hovercraft under construction at Airlift Marine
One of the Kaimann P42 craft under construction
This one is a toy for Ross
Inspecting the exterior of the Pioneer
Inspecting the exterior of the Pioneer
Inspecting the exterior of the Pioneer
Inspecting the interior of the Pioneer
Inspecting the interior of the Pioneer
Overlooking the factory floor
Another view of the Pioneer
Our much smaller hovercraft sitting out on the lawn
Lunch time barbeque out under the gazebo
Steven loses a few skirt segments while giving a joy ride
Back at number 96, Des Goss and Dale Baxter made a prompt retreat after a much longer than
expected day out. Steven, who got stuck on the steep concrete ramp last month due to a flat spot
in the power curve, took no chances this time and came up at 7000 rpm. The extra lift reduced the
water tracking and the wind took over causing the craft to veer to the starboard and towards the
rocks. A sudden portside tilt dumped valuable lift air and put the Turbo back on the straight and
narrow, but the skids touched the concrete which is always points off for the perfect landing.
The fast approach would have meant more skid wear with a sudden drop off at the apron, so I
continued on past a surprised Peter and Arthur, and managed to draw the attention of his
neighbours as I narrowly missed the Falcon and came to a swirling stop on the mushy terrace lawn.
Judy and Elaine prepared the late afternoon tea and cake and we discussed some of the bullet points on the National Rally.
I wish to express thanks and appreciation to Ross McLeod, family and employees of Airlift Marine for their hospitality extended to members of the Queensland Sporting Hovercraft club, a branch of the Australian Hovercraft Federation Inc (Vic).
Australian Hovercraft Federation News:-
On the weekend of 8th, 9th & 10th July 2011, the Queensland Hovercraft Club
will host the Australian National Rally at Kirkleagh on Lake Somerset, about 2 hours north of Brisbane.
An online pre-registration form has been set up on the qhover websites for those intending to go
to Lake Someset for the 2011 rally.
Angus Kerr and Anne Tenance showed samples of the caps and tee shirts with OzHover Eleven motif embroidery. If you intend to bring a craft to the National Rally, a tee shirt and cap will be provided when you register at the rally site, however we need to know your size. Please write to me or email me with your tee shirt size as soon as possible so the tee shirts can be sourced and embroidered in time for the rally in July.
Without your valued feedback on this matter, we will have to guess your size and number of shirts to order, which increases the chance of a shortage.
Camp Quality hovercrafting:-
Dan Logovik has requested assistance in a fund raising campaign for Camp Quality.
We plan to assist by providing craft to participate in charity work on Saturday 28th May at Boggy
Creek in the vicinity of Bulwer Island, Pinkenba and Myrtletown. Nestled between the BP oil refinery
and the airport, noise from the craft will be largely overwhelmed by the ambient industrial attenuation.
Dan Logovik is organising about 25 to 30 guests to enjoy various weird science demonstrations and
projects at various locations around Brisbane. Each guest is paying a substantial contribution to
experience interesting science demonstrations
eg: The Segway which is a two wheeled single axle personal transport device which maintains balance by complex gimbal stabiliser and electronics controlling powerful electric motors.Other fascinating displays await the quests at the University of Queensland St Lucia campus. The hovercraft rides at Boggy Creek will be only a small portion in the grand tour of interesting science experiments and experiences but at the end of the day, a healthy fund is hoped to be raised as proceed for charity benefiting Camp Quality.
The air cushion vehicle although by no means a new invention is still a relatively unexperienced venture by the populace owing to so few craft in commercial circulation and as such is considered worthy of inclusion in the science tour.
Camp Quality fund raising day: Noon to 1:10 pm Saturday 28th May 2011.
Bancroft Road Pinkenba.
Next club cruise:-
The next club cruise will be held on Saturday 14th May 2011 at Muriel St, Redland Bay.
Meet at 9:00 am at Peter Venn's place at 96 Muriel St, Redland Bay for a launch into the Redland
Bay Channel and a run to Jumpinpin on South Stradbroke Island.
UBD Reference - Map 267 B9.
Contact for the event is Steven Odgaard on 0400 798 404.
Next Queensland branch meeting:
The next club meeting will be on Tuesday 17th May 2011 at 7:30pm.
It will be held in the Staff Room at Our Lady of Fatima RC primary school, 350 Mortimer Road Acacia Ridge.
Hope you can come. All welcome.
Regards
Steven Odgaard
QSH secretary