Page 191 - Theory and Design of Air Cushion Craft
P. 191

174  Stability




















































              Fig. 4.40 The plough-in  phenomenon  of  British  SR.N6  in  tests.



               that the speed  decreases, followed  by large pitching down and  heeling angle, as
               well as stern pitching up tendency so as to enlarge the drifting  angle.

             The  principal  author  has  had  a  number  of  such  experiences;  for  example,  the  5 t
             ACV   model  711-11 would  plough-in  on  calm  water  (or  in  a  breeze)  at  a  speed  of
             70-80 km/h. In  the  case  where  the  craft  was travelling  downwind,  then  the  proba-
             bility  of  plough-in  would  be  over  90%. Violent  slamming  would  occur  to  the  craft
             and  lead  to  speed  degradation  from  high  speed  (about  80  km/h) to  off  cushion
             speed  (about  5 km/h) in  2-3  seconds.  Such  high  deceleration  accompanied  by  the
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