Page 32 - Theory and Design of Air Cushion Craft

ACV and SES development in the UK 17

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Fig. 1.16 HM-2 stern seal.

Fig. 1.17 HM-2 bow seal.

and four hundred thousand cars per year. In the 1970s and 80s on average about one
third of passengers and cars on these routes were transported by hovercraft, with
transport efficiency of about double that of hydrofoil craft.

Market development: from the beginning of the 80s to the present

Although air cushion technology had advanced significantly by the end of the 70s,
there were still difficulties to overcome in order for hovercraft to compete fully with