Hovercraft

May Build His Own Hovercraft

Fiji may have the South acific’s first hovercraft next ear—somebody hopes.

Mr. Peter Allan, of Suva, who instructed his own Benson esigned gyroglider early this ear, was off to the Farnborough Ircraft display late in August -it takes place in September— rid he said that he would be iking a close look at aviation’s test arrival, the hovercraft, ith the idea of building one of is own.

Mr. Allan, who is head of iternational Aeradio Co. in iji—the company which pro des radio communications at iji’s smaller airports—said that ve laws governing the flying f aircraft had considerably mited his gyroglider operations, e was only permitted to make thered flights.

The gyroglider derives its ower from a towing vehicle, if the pilot is properly lalified he can release the tow t sufficient altitude and carry i in free flight.

Mr. Allan thinks that the overcraft, which only rises a no inches above the water irface, will be free of limiting igulations and will offer more wrt to an unlicensed pilot.

However, he may be wrong iere, as the hovercraft pilot ill probably need to be :ensed.