PERFORMANCE TESTING OF AN AIR CUSHION VEHICLE ON THE GREENLAND ICE CAP.

• Main Author: Abele,Gunars
• Other Authors: FIELD EMISSION CORP MCMINNVILLE OREG
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1966
• Subjects: Surface Effect Vehicles & Amphibious Vehicles; (*GROUND EFFECT MACHINES; *SNOW); (*TRANSPORTATION; GREENLAND); (*SNOW; TRAFFICABILITY); ICE; POLAR REGIONS; MOBILITY; AIRCRAFT; PERFORMANCE(ENGINEERING); GROUND EFFECT; Greenland; Ice cap
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0632570; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0632570

During the summer of 1964, performance tests were conducted on the Greenland Ice Cap to determine and evaluate the feasibility of the air cushion vehicle concept as a transportation method in polar regions. Results from tests with the Bell Tri-Cell Plenum Air Cushion Vehicle indicated that the test vehicle can cruise over an undisturbed snow surface at speeds up to 35 mph and produce a maximum speed of 42 mph. The test vehicle was capable of ascending a 6 to 10% slope against a 15-knot wind, traveling over soft snow drifts up to 30 inches high, and crossing ditches of at least a 5-ft width. The payload capacity of the vehicle was approximately 1000 lb, not including the operator and fuel. The skirt lifting sideforce concept and the harrow disk attachment proved to be very effective for control and maneuverability of the vehicle. (Author)