About the Hovercraft.
The Hovercraft Naming Ceremony
Guest Book
Morecambe RNLI Station
Registered charity number 209603
The Hovercraft
Griffon 47OSAR — Inshore Rescue Hovercraft
In 1999, an initiative to revisit Hovercraft as a possible SAR asset was launched.
The response criteria, was for a craft to effect search and rescue operations in that area between high and low water where conventional lifeboat cannot operate due to lack of water, and shore based resources cannot operate easily due to the hazards of soft mud and quicksand.
The original prototype hovercraft (H-001) delivered in December 2000 has undergone two major refits, each refit modifying and improving on the earlier version as a result of the ongoing exhaustive trials.
After over two years of development and trials, the Griffon 47OSAR emerged and was given approval to introduce Inshore Rescue Hovercraft IRH into operational service.
H-002 The Hurley Flyer is the first operational RNLI rescue hovercraft offering a declared search and rescue capability 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.
H-001, the prototype hovercraft, is currently the relief craft and is also used for training new station hovercraft commanders and crew at Poole.
The RNLI’s Inshore Rescue Hovercraft was built and fitted out by Griffon Hovercraft Limited of Southampton. The hull and main bulkheads are constructed of marine grade aluminium alloy of welded and riveted construction and include eight buoyancy chambers. The topsides are moulded composites. The sides of the hovercraft feature chambered inflatable sponsors which increase both buoyancy and stability while allowing the craft to be reduced to the road legal width for rapid deployment by road to alternative launch sites. The sponsons also act as side fenders and present a soft edge for the recovery of survivors.
The hovercraft is powered by two Volkswagen 1.9 litre turbo diesel engines, each engine runs its own lift and thrust system and the crew can operate the craft out of danger should there be problems with one engine. There are no moving parts under the hovercraft.
The hovercraft can be operated with a crew of two to six, dependant on the type of emergency where either space, equipment or muscle is required.
The hovercraft can travel at speeds up to 30 knots on water but is limited for safety reasons to 15 knots over land. The operating weight is 2.5 tonnes and the craft is 7.8 metres long by 4.0 metres wide.
Day to day upkeep of the hovercraft is the responsibility of the station mechanic while more serious problems are dealt with by the Northern Divisional Base technical staff.
The performance of the Hurley Flyer and crew feedback is being closely monitored by the Operations and Technical Departments of the RNLI, the approach is to learn to ‘walk before we try to run’ and while ‘night capability’ is not established, night vision and thermal imaging aids are being appraised.
INSHORE RESCUE HOVER CRAFT - DATA
The Inshore Rescue Hovercraft (IRH) is being introduced into the RNLI SAR fleet in 2002. The hovercraft has been developed from a standard Griffon 450TD in conjunction with the manufacturer; Griffon Hovercraft Limited and is now the Griffon 470 SAR.
The hovercraft will be deployed to areas of mud and shifting sands where, up until now we have been unable to respond and rescue work has been carried out by the more expensive RAF helicopter and/or by foot.
Length: 8.04m
Weight: 2400kg (Fully loaded)
Launch: Can launch on most smooth surfaces, including roads, car parks and fields. Transferred by road on specialist Transporter (Cost approx £60,000)
Crew: 2/3
Casualty capacity: 3/4 but can be used as safe refuge under cover for up to 10.
Speed: 30 knots
Endurance: 3 hours + 10% reserve
Specialist Capability: Shallow water, soft mud, sand bars, rapid shoreline search
Construction: The hull of the hovercraft is marine grade aluminium, while the topsides and fan ducts are moulded fibre reinforced composites.
Cost: £133,000 + Navigation and PPE equipment
Powered by: 2 x VW Golf Turbo Diesels of 64kW each
Training: Similar to ILB
Equipment List: Mud softening lance with water and air bottles, 2 x stretchers, First Aid Kit, GPS, VHF Radio, Life raft (6 man)
The Controls
The Props
Cockpit or Cab ?
Photo by N.Leach
Photo by N.Leach
Photo by N.Leach
Exercise on River Lune
On the slipway.
Photo by. N Leach
VW Golf Turbo Diesels