Hovercraft Unlikely On Ice This Season

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32382, 22 August 1970, Page 14

Hovercraft Unlikely On Ice This Season

- It was unlikely that the Auckland-made rotary-engined hovercraft being considered for use with the New Zealand research team in the Antarctic would be tested there this season, the superintendent of the Antarctic division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Mr R. B. Thomson) said in Christchurch yesterday.

The four-man hovercraft is made by Commercial Hovercraft Industries, and Mr Thomson said the division wanted to see how it stood up to use in the North Island before taking one to the Antarctic.

marine biology work, Mr Thomson said. The eight-day orientation course for the 78 members of the 1970 New Zealand Antarctic team had gone very well, Mr Thomson said. For the first time, the course was this year held at the Army training area at Balmoral, Lake Tekapo. Previously it has been held at Waiouru. The aim of the course is to teach team members how to live and work in the Antarctic. Training is given in safety procedures, search and rescue drills, first aid, and basic ice techniques. At Tekapo, tests had been conducted with two Swedish tracked motor-toboggans, Mr Thomson said, but the snow was insufficient for a full test.

Also, it was planned to fit the hovercraft with more powerful engines, making it much more suitable for Antarctic work. A hovercraft could be particularly useful for summer

The toboggans would be shipped to the Antarctic for trials in the coming season. Each toboggan could carry two men and also tow about 20001 b of equipment on a sledge. The first aircraft of the new season are expected to fly south on October 8 whep, if the weather is suitable, seven aircraft will fly from Christchurch to Williams Field, McMurdo Station. Mr Thomson and some other members of the New Zealand summer party are expected to fly to the Antarctic that day.