Page 52 - Theory and Design of Air Cushion Craft

36 Introduction to hovercraft

because of the lack of some reliable and credible critical materials, engines, equipment
and components, such as corrosion resistant aluminium alloys for the hull, light-
weight main engines, special air propellers and flexible skirts, etc. It was evident that
obtaining the key material and equipment was the most important problem faced by
the researchers and designers, and that this had to be solved either by import or by
improving the quality of domestic products. In this respect, it was considered that
development had better be tried on smaller sized craft. For this reason MARIC com-
pleted various small hovercraft in the 70s, such as a hover-jeep, 7202 (Fig. 1.34), 7210,
721 OB, etc. while at the same time some commercial passenger SES were completed,
such as versions 717-11, 7203 and 719-11 (Figs 1.35, 1.36 and 1.4). Owing to a lack of
the corrosion resistant aluminium alloys in China, and some technology problems
with respect to fabricating welded structures in aluminium alloy which still had not
been solved, marine steel was selected as the hull material of those craft.
Meanwhile, MARIC rebuilt the ACV 716 and adopted Deutz marine air cooled

Fig. 1.35 717-11 in operation on Yangtze River by Chong Quing city.

Fig. 1.36 Chinese SES design 7203.