Happy

Landings
A guide to operating bases for
a Griffon Hoverwork hovercraft
Overview
One of the major advantages of using a hovercraft is its ability to operate from unprepared
beaches, initially reducing its operating cost. However, in the long term the craft will provide
longer and more reliable service, maintenance tasks will be easier and cheaper to conduct
and accidental damage will be less likely if the craft is operated from a permanent purpose
built facility. In the half century or so that hovercraft have been operated a number of
different arrangements have been used, more or less successfully.

Natural beach
There are some Griffon Hoverwork craft
operating which run their craft from a natural
beach. There are drawbacks of course, shore
access may be difficult, lifting and chocking will
be problematic, and sand and shingle will take
its toll on the craft.

Hover-On Pontoon
Many users have successfully utilised a floating
pontoon with ramped edges to operate their
craft. This is often a good choice if good
natural beaches are hard to find. They may
serve well for a temporary landing or a short
term operation. These can be constructed
from steel or concrete flotation tanks or
timber.

There are proprietary arrangements of buoyant interlocking plastic tanks which can also
serve well as a short term solution, but these will deform over time unless a rigid plywood
deck is laid over them. http://www.pontoonworks.co.uk/

Permanent Shore Base

Without a doubt, the best option is to build a
permanent shore base with under cover
storage and maintenance facilities. This will
ensure a long reliable and economical service
life for the craft. This is of course initially the
most expensive option but it will pay the
operator back over the life of the craft.

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Permanent Shore Base
It is recommended that the operating base for any Griffon Hoverwork hovercraft provides
the following features:
1. A safe, predictable slipway.
2. A hard standing and landing area.
3. Shelter for the craft.
4. Maintenance facilities.
5. Other considerations

Figure 1 Operating Base dimensions. See table 2 for dimensions.

1. A safe, predictable slipway.

The importance of a safe and predictable slipway cannot
be over-emphasised. It is the only part of a hovercraft’s
working area that a craft will have to negotiate at least
twice during every operation. Here are a few design
pointers towards the ideal installation:
 If there is a choice of sites, a prevailing wind that blows
directly offshore is desirable.
 The slipway will need an approach corridor clear of
any obstructions at all states of tide. The dimensions of
this are shown on figure 1 and table 2.
 The slipway width should be between 1 and 1.5 x craft
length if it is necessary to turn the craft on it. See table
2.
 The slipway must have a level gradient across width. Cross section through slipway
Hovercraft will fall down a gradient and any cross slope
will cause unpredictable and potentially dangerous approaches and departures.

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 There should be no camber, the slipway should be flat
across its width. A road design is the worst
arrangement for a hovercraft as gravity will cause it to
fall off sideways. If only one craft is to be
accommodated then a reverse camber is acceptable,
i.e. higher at the edges than the middle, but a flat
slipway is best.
 The approach gradient is critical and should be no
steeper than 1:12. Although most craft will be able to
negotiate a slope steeper than 1:12 this is undesirable
because the craft will need more speed to ascend, and
consequently a longer landing area will be required to
allow the craft to stop safely. See table 1 for
equivalents.
 At the sides of Cross section through slipway
the slipway some
arrangement should be made to prevent the craft
falling off the edge. The sides should be sloped away
at 45 degrees so that the craft will be guided back on
the level (see photo left.)

2. A hard standing and landing area.

The hard standing and landing area will provide a place for parking the craft after a sortie. It
should meet the following criteria:
 It should be wide enough to provide space for all the craft located at the base. This may
be the same width as the slipway, or wider, depending on the size and number of craft
at the base.
 The gradient should be 1:25. If the craft park facing uphill, water will drain away, and the
craft will easily fall off the slope backwards. See figure 1. See table 1 for equivalent
gradients.
 The landing area must have a level gradient across width. Hovercraft will fall down a
gradient and any cross slope will cause unpredictable and potentially dangerous
manoeuvres.
 There should be fuelling facilities close to this area with appropriate pollution control
measures.
 There should be a shore power supply point within reach of the craft to furnish air
conditioning sets and de-humidifiers on board the craft.
 There should be a fresh water hose available to wash the craft down.
 An area for craning or blocking the craft if hull repairs are required. (This may be
provided inside the hangar if possible.)

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3. Shelter for the craft.
A hangar should be provided for storage of the hovercraft. The craft will suffer if left outside
for long periods. Figure 1 shows an ideal arrangement where the hangar is erected over the
same slope as the landing area, this will allow water to drain away from the craft and also
assist in hovering the craft out backwards. If space allows some operators have arranged the
hangar with two doorways at opposite ends of the building, this allows the craft to exit
forwards. In this case the hangar floor should be level and some form of drainage gulley
provided under the craft. This will take more space as there must be space for the craft to
turn.

Why do you need a hangar?

If hovercraft are left standing in direct sunlight and heavy rains, the temperature and
humidity will exceed the design limits of much of the installed electronic equipment.
Systems exposed to these conditions may suffer from reliability issues and a shorter life.
These conditions also fall outside the environmental limits of the warranty.
For these reasons it is essential to maintain the craft interior temperature between 15 and
30 degrees C and 50-60% relative humidity to protect the craft and its equipment.

The relative humidity within the control and crew cabins must be maintained below 60% to
prevent condensation forming as temperatures fall in the evenings.
GHL advise that de-humidifiers are used inside the craft to reduce the level of water vapour.

The temperatures experienced on the exterior of the craft in direct sunlight, when it is not
being cooled by operational air and water flow will exceed the design temperature of 55
degrees C. This will prematurely degrade the skirt materials and the exposure to UV will
attack some of the craft's fitted components.
To avoid this the craft must be stored out of direct sunlight when not in use.

If the site allows the hangar facility would be most convenient located on the slope ahead of
the landing area as shown in figure 1. If the ground is on the same gradient as the landing
area (1:25) the hangar will drain freely and reversing the craft out will be easier.

Table 3 gives guidance for the recommended internal size of the building for different
models and numbers of hovercraft. Note that the heights given do not include antennae,
they may need to be lowered before the craft enters.

4. Maintenance facilities.
A workshop and stores area should be provided in or near the hangar to facilitate
maintenance on the craft. The store should hold stock for:
 Spare parts for scheduled maintenance tasks
 Contingency spare parts
 Consumables

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  A flammables store for paints, oils and lubricants with appropriate pollution control.
 Personal protective equipment
 Administration station
The workshop should be equipped with a range of simple hand and power tools. GHL can
recommend a list of tools if requested.

5. Other Considerations
Ground pressure
Although the surface pressure of the craft whilst underway is negligible, when it is parked or
jacked more ground pressure is exerted. The ground pressure of the craft’s landing pads
under the parked craft is maximum 4kg/cm2. The surface right across both the slipway and
the landing area should be able to withstand this pressure.

Other Equipment
 Leading lights - a pair of white lights mounted on the alignment of the slipway
centre-line to assist approaching during night operations. Ideally positioned on front
and rear end of the hangar roof, one above the other.
 Wind-sock, as a clear indicator of wind direction during approaches and departures.
 Flood-lights for night operation.
 Fuel supply with appropriate pollution control. This may take the form of a small
bowser.
 Crane, either a mobile crane or a gantry built in to the hangar.
 Blocking arrangement.
 Towing vehicle.

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 Gradient Angle Percentage Minimum Internal Size of Hangar (m)
1:12 4.8 deg 8.30%

Height H(h) *
Width W(h)
Length L(h)
No of craft
Craft Type
1:25 2.3 deg 4.00%
Table 1

380TD 1 9.80 7.76 3.65

380TD 2 9.80 13.52 3.65
380TD 3 9.80 19.28 3.65
500TD 1 11.04 7.92 3.41
500TD 2 11.04 13.84 3.41
500TD 3 11.04 19.76 3.41
1050TD 1 13.50 8.89 4.05
1050TD 2 13.50 13.78 4.05
1050TD 3 13.50 18.67 4.05
2000TD 1 16.70 10.10 4.93
2000TD 2 16.70 16.20 4.93
2000TD 3 16.70 22.30 4.93
2400TD 1 17.40 10.80 5.30
2400TD 2 17.40 17.60 5.30
Minimum Ideal Approach 2400TD 3 17.40 24.40 5.30
3000TD 1 22.40 15.10 6.34
3000TD 2 22.40 25.20 6.34
Slipway width

Slipway width

Length L(app)

3000TD 3 22.40 35.30 6.34

Craft Type

4000TD 1 25.20 15.10 6.34

4000TD 2 25.20 25.20 6.34
W(s)

W(s)

4000TD 3 25.20 35.30 6.34

380TD 7 11 100 8000TD 1 25.30 16.00 6.52
500TD 8 12 100 8000TD 2 25.30 27.00 6.52
1050TD 10 15 100 8000TD 3 25.30 38.00 6.52
2000TD 13 20 150 8100TD 1 26.55 16.00 6.86
2400TD 14 21 150 8100TD 2 26.55 27.00 6.86
8100TD 3 26.55 38.00 6.86
3000TD 19 29 200
BHT130 1 35.30 21.00 11.70
4000TD 22 33 200
BHT130 2 35.30 39.00 11.70
8000TD 22 33 300
BHT150 1 37.00 21.00 12.20
8100TD 23 34 300 BHT150 2 37.00 39.00 12.20
BHT130 30 45 400 BHT160 1 38.30 21.00 12.20
BHT150 31 46 400 BHT160 2 38.30 39.00 12.20
BHT160 33 50 400 BHT180 1 39.70 21.00 12.20
BHT180 34 51 400 BHT180 2 39.70 39.00 12.20
Table 2 Table 3
*Heights do not include antennae.

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