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     This single-seat air-cushion vehicle (ACV) is meant for employment on lakes, snow or ice, swamps or grassland; the hull will float even with the engines off. 

Dimensions

Height, skirt inflated:  1.4 meters

Height, skirt deflated:  1.2 meters

Height, floating in water:  0.6 meters

Draft, floating:  0.6 meters

Width:  2.13 meters

Length:  3.35 meters

Maximum Gross Weight:  160 kilograms

Maximum Payload Weight:  90 kilograms - this includes the pilot and their equipment!

Construction

     The hull, fan shroud and air rudders are made from one layer of epoxied Resistweave™ material; the skirts are made from 'regular' Resistweave™.

Armor value 7

     The windshield is made from ballistic plexiglas, but only comes up to about "nametag" level.

     The seat has lap and shoulder belts. There are mooring and tow cleats around the edges of the hull.

     There are two 12 cm diameter solid rubber wheels mounted on the underside, which combine to keep the underside from scraping along the ground before proper "hover" performance is attained.

Performance

     The ACV operates best over calm water or flat paved surfaces, but can also travel over level ground. It's maximum speed over water, lake ice, level snow or pavement is 46 kph, but normal cruising speed is best held to 36 kph. Speed over land, presuming grass, small rocks, ruts and uneven surfaces, is 20 kph maximum. Acceleration to 36 kph is very slow.

     Wind conditions greatly affect all ACVs; the Albatross cannot operate in winds exceeding 15 kph -- there is extreme danger of flipping over. Top speed should be limited to 20 kph if wind speed exceeds 10 kph. In any case, the ACV is prone to side-slipping in crosswinds.

     The Albatross cannot negotiate rough water (over sea state 1); the skirt will lose containment and the ACV will drop into the water. On land, the craft cannot climb vertical obstacles of more than 15 centimeters height, or traverse slopes of greater than 1 in 8 grade.

     When unloaded and afloat (lift engine off) the water level lies just a half-meter below the "deck" level; with a full load, the water level is about 30 cm below the "deck". The propulsion fan cannot be used while afloat -- the driver has to "power up and fly" or use the paddles.

     When hovering at a stand still, this ACV can slowly rotate in place; as speed increases, the turn radius increases quite a lot. Steering, banking and some braking are mostly accomplished by the operator leaning; the two rudders do not provide much steering control below about 25 kph.

     The sounds of the lift fans and propulsion fans are a lot quieter than (say) a helicopter or speedboat, but still noisy. The Albatross is very easy to see when hovering or moving -- lots of spray or dust is kicked up, along with a roostertail at even moderate speeds.

Systems and Propulsion

     Six Morrow Project vehicle batteries power the Albatross. The batteries can be swapped with fresh ones in a minute or two. The ACV can operate for 24 hours on the six batteries, when traveling at cruise speed. Range is thus at least 800 kilometers, maybe 1100 kilometers if you are traveling only on flat ice or pavement.

     The two 61 cm propulsion and lift fans are each driven at 3600 RPM by a 7 kilowatt electric motor. There is no separate thrust propeller -- two "thrust ports" at the rear release air from the body to propel and steer the vehicle.

     Twin halogen headlamps are fitted. A "remaining power" meter is fitted in the cockpit.

     Two air rudders are fitted for steering; they can be removed for storage and transport, reducing the height of the ACV to 0.8 meters.

Equipment Carried

     One double-bladed canoe paddle.