conducted from the Royal Navy Air Yard at Fleetlands near Gosport. The moving force behind the MAF project was an engineer who went to Lake Chad in 1966 as part of a new flying programme for the area. During that time he saw the need for a hovercraft to carry out medical, missionary and other transport duties around the shores of the Lake. Lake Chad was the size of Wales (then) with large areas of very shallow and disease ridden waters, with a population of around 250,000 people. A suitable hovercraft at the right price was not available so Tim Longley the engineer in question drew up specifications for a ‘craft which was approved by MAF, and in conjunction with Mike Ive a master at the school and Tony Burgess a civilian scientist at the Inter-Services Hovercraft Unit at Lee-onSolent, detailed design and construction
began at the school, and 1973 saw its completion. August 10th saw the craft first hover on Lord Maynard Reservoir at Walthamstow, where the pupils saw the results of their hard work.
Photo 3
Squadron Leader Blatch who took the controls of the hovercraft said “it is well up to the standard of professionally built production-line hovercraft” Praise indeed. At the same time as this, Pindair Ltd also received an order from MAF for a two or four-seater Skima craft. HoverAid – the hovercraft charity using ‘craft in Madagascar has links with the club too. Keith Smallwood provided a Vortex hovercraft a couple of years ago. To raise funds they have an annual charity auction and this year Chris Daly has kindly offered a Hover Experience to the highest bidder.
LightHovercraft
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