Hovercraft Development Ltd (HDL) / NPL Hovercraft Group
Hovercraft Development Ltd was established in 1959 by the National Research
Development Corporation (NRDC) to develop and exploit the early hovercraft patents. HDL had a facility at Hythe on Southampton
Water where the HD-1 and HD-2 development craft were developed.
The HD-1 was of mainly wooden construction and was built by ship builders J. Samuel White of Cowes, Isle of Wight - the craft
was described as the first non-amphibious craft with air curtains at both the front and rear (or bow and stern for the nautically
minded!). Built as a full scaled test bed for skirts and control.
The HD-2 was produced as a full sized test vehicle to research hovercraft controls.
In October 1967, the development and research aspects of HDL were transferred to the National Physical Laboratory to form the
NPL Hovercraft Group. HDL continued with the licensing of the hovercraft patents.
The Hythe site continued until the mid 1970's.
(Click on an image to get a larger version)
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Shown here at Hovershow '66 - 18th June 1966, the HD-1 was designed by HDL and built by J. Samuel White shipbuilders of Cowes,
Isle of Wight the craft was first launched from Hythe (Southampton Water) on 22 October 1963.
Originally the craft was a non-amphibious, sidewall craft, subsequently the sidewalls were removed and it was given
a full skirt.
- Length : 50 ft
- Beam: 23 ft (across skirts)
- Speed: 35 knots (max)
- Lift engines: 2 x 80 hp Coventry Climax engines
- Propulsion engines :2 x Rolls Royce/Continental O-300D, 6 cylinder - replaced in 1964 by 2 x RR/C G10-470-A, 6 cylinder
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HD-2 hovercraft on the
slipway at Hythe
contributed by Roy Johnson, TechnicalScientific.com |
Designed and constructed (1966) by HDL's own staff.
- Crew: 2, Passengers: 6
- Length 30 ft 9 inch
- Beam: 19 ft
- Max speed 45 knots
- Lift engine - single Rover turbine 150shp
- Propulsion engines - 2 x Rover turbine 150shp
The HD-2 is now in the Hovercraft Museum in a very sad state (2008)
HD2 cutaway
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Originally the Cushioncraft CC4, this was acquired by NPL for research into low pressure fan propulsion systems (amongst other
things) and was renamed HU-4.
See the Cushioncraft page for details of the craft in its original configuration.
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Rear view of HU-4 |
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HDL's Hoverbed
Developed by HDL in 1966/67, the hoverbed was designed to treat patients suffering from burns, the idea was that sterilised
air supporting the patient rather than linen would speed recovery.
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From the early days of hovercraft, the use of the technology for tracked trains was considered. Much research
was done world-wide (especially in France where a full size track was established).
 In
the UK, initial experimentation was undertaken by HDL/NPL at their Hythe site (see rig below) and a model (right) was demonstrated
at Hovershow '66.
 A
full size research vehicle - the RTV31 (Research Test Vehicle 31) - and a test track at Erith in Cambridgeshire were built in the
early 1970's and the vehicle achieved speeds in excess of 100 mph from a standing start over 1 mile. The vehicle used linear motors
for propulsion along the track it sat on. Funding for the project was withdrawn by the Tory Government in February 1973 and development
stopped. The RTV31 vehicle is now located at the entrance to Railworld
in Peterborough, and some signs of the concrete piers which supported the track can still be identified along the route of the
test track.
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Early concept model of tracked Hovercraft
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An experimental Tracked Hovercraft rig at Hythe (1960's)
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World-wide the hovertrain technology seems to have been overtaken by MagLev (magnetic levitation).
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