JET LAUNCH TESTED
Successful Trial On Estuary
Hundreds of onlookers saw New Zealand’s first twin -jet engine passenger launch undergoing a series of successful trials on the Estuary, including a crossing of the Sumner bar, yesterday afternoon. ■
The launch, which has a speed of more than 30 miles an hour, is designed for passenger transport on the Wanganui Fiver. Designed by Mr C. W. F. Hamilton, of Irishman creek, near Lake Tekapo, the craft yesterday demonstrated its ability to travel at speed over sandbanks covered S’.J )nly . S'* ht inches ot water. With a full load of 12 passengers and a driver it turned in unusually short distances at a speed of about 25 miles an hour. Propulsion is by the thrust of the Jet stream and steering by deflecting the direction of the jets. With a beam of Bft and a total length of 21ft the craft weighs 30cwt. and about three tons fully loaded. Of laminated timber it was built by R. Mahan and Co., of Redcliffs, and has a specially reinforced bottom of extra strength for negotiating boulderstrewn rapids.
It will be used by Mr C. Davies for passenger transport between Wanganui and Taumaranui.
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Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28543, 24 March 1958, Page 10
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197JET LAUNCH TESTED Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28543, 24 March 1958, Page 10
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