June 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, 21st June 2011, at the RC primary school, 350 Mortimer Road, Acacia Ridge.
This meeting was attended by:-

Treasurer:- Phillip Audsley
Secretary:- Steven Odgaard

Other members attending were Peter Venn, Angus Kerr and Arthur Stead.
Visitors for the evening were Rita Chaffey, Larry Lewis, Russ Pullen and Dan Logovic.

Cruise report - Boggy Creek, Pinkenba - Saturday 28th May 2011.

The last club cruise was held on Saturday 28th May 2011 at Boggy Creek, Pinkenba.
This outing was a Camp Quality fund raising exercise organised by Dan Logovic, and 22 people had paid $50 a head for a Weird Science Day excursion which included rides on hovercraft and Segway machines, and a science seminar at the University of Queensland at St Lucia.
Taking part in this cruise were:-

Peter Venn - Turbo TP6 powered by a Subaru 1800cc and 18hp Honda.
Angus Kerr - Revtech Rocket.
Des Goss - Simple Cyclone powered by a PE485 Yamaha.
Steven Odgaard - Expo Turbo powered by a PE485 Yamaha.

Others attending the cruise were:-
Ann Torrance, Kyle Kerr & Doris, Dale Baxter, Bill Russell and Dan Logovic.

Angus made an impressive start to the day’s event from the stoney boat ramp at the end of Priors Road, but unfortunately, the Revtech Rocket suffered a collapsed top pulley just as he returned and settled down near the end of his trailer. Only Angus could have the luck to break down on the pad right behind his trailer. The light craft was easily lifted by 4 surly burly blokes and carried onto the trailer where it retired for the day.

Des Goss began giving rides from the boat ramp but Steven cleared all obstacles from a sandy beach 30 metres upstream and Peter Venn followed in to use this clean landing site. All 3 craft made regular trips across the sandbanks and to the end of Bulwer Island with 1 or 2 passengers each. Peter occasionally took extra passengers depending on size and weight.

Those waiting on the grassy paddock were entertained by Matthew, Annette and Dan with 5 Segway machines. Dale Baxter and Bill Russell attended from the hovercraft club and Dan Logovik enjoyed a short run down Boggy Creek at the controls of the Expo Turbo. Angus Kerr was able to take Ann for a run out to the end of Bulwer Island in the Expo Turbo after the 22 paying passengers had finished. The hovercraft and Segway activity raised $800 towards Camp Quality with thanks to the efforts of our organiser, Dan Logovik. Dan also raised an additional $1400 from the Weird Science lecture at the University of Queensland at St Lucia.

Click on the next and previous buttons below to see a selection of the photos from the day.

Des Goss and Steven Odgaard went for an afternoon cruise to Juno Point, Cribb Island and Nudgee Beach and then visited an old workmate of Des, Alf and Liz at Pinkenba for a cup of tea and an interesting look at their collection of birds of prey including Tawny Frogmouth, Sparrow Hawks, Owls and Eagles which come and go as they please from the aviaries next to the marsh lands.

AHF Annual General Meeting:-
On Thursday 2nd June the Australian Hovercraft Federation held an Annual General Meeting via a three state phone conference. In attendance were:-

Victoria - Peter Streader, Colin Dainty, Ken Osmond and Tony Westwood.
New South Wales - Eugene Zanozin.
Queensland - Peter Venn, Steven Odgaard and Arthur Stead.

Election of office bearers was as follows:-
President - Peter Streader Vic
Vice President - Eugene Zanozin NSW
Secretary - Steven Odgaard Qld
Treasurer - Colin Dainty Vic

Air Force Cadets Training Exercise:-
On Saturday 4th June Des Goss, Peter Venn and Steven Odgaard assisted Leading Aircraftsman and Training Officer Brett Young to lecture on Hovercraft at Aviation High with approx 25 air cadets. Des arrived on time at 8:00 am and Peter and I arrived late but in time for lectures. There were 5 lectures altogether and our club banner, tee shirts, book collection and Balsa models made an interesting showpiece on the side.

After lunch we were able to demonstrate the Simple Cyclone, the Turbo Wedge 240 and the Turbo TP6 on the school oval. This was doubtful in the morning as the back gate was locked, but the resourceful air cadets used a box of tools to remove the gate hinges to allow us entry to the school premises from a side street.

A spotter from another air cadet flight enquired if we would be interested in repeating the practical demonstration in conjunction with the Air Force training programme, only this time with 300 cadets at either Amberley or at Somerset Dam.

Thanks to Flight Lieutenant Leigh Smith (Commanding Officer) Leading Aircraftsman Brett Young (Training Officer) and Cadet Sergeant Joshua Kessell for a very enjoyable day.

Thanks also to Kevin Dixon of Fulham SA for the useful tips and points of historical interest associated with the hovercraft training elective compiled by Chris Hassiotis of Air Cadet Flight 609 Adelaide.

Next club cruise:-
The next club cruise will be the Australian National Rally - OzHover Eleven on Lake Somerset.
This event is being hosted by the Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club and will take place on the 8th, 9th and 10th July and will be based at the Lake Somerset Holiday Park at Kirkleigh.
Contact for the event is Steven Odgaard on 0400 798 404.

Next Queensland branch meeting:
The next club meeting will be held on Tuesday 19th July 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