Prototype “airtrain”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32589, 24 April 1971, Page 11

Prototype “airtrain”

Italy is currently engaged in experiments with new types of vehicles, employing such technical methods as air cushions and electric induction motors.

The Institute of Aeronautics at Palermo University, in co-operation with the State Railways, is now preparing trials with a prototype “airtrain” over a two kilometre experimental run, and it is expected that a speed of 250 kilometres an hour wili be achieved. Research leading to this experiment, and which has been possible as a result of financial aid offered by the Sicilian regional government and the National Research Council, is related to several other international projects.

The Italian “airtrain,” known as “lAP 2,” has a cabin with three seats, is 10 metres long and weighs two tons. It rests on two lateral air cushions and skids and is equipped with two motors, one for propulsion and the other for direction. To date, the prototype model has only been tested over a very short distance at the Institute of Aeronautics at Palermo, and for the final trials the State Railways have offered track, sleepers and labour free of charge. The final experiments, as well as those conducted at the institute, are being made to calculate the stability of the vehicle at high speed and technical experts are hoping to improve the new system since plane are already being made for a commercial model with a capacity of 100 passengers.—ltaldoc.