Griffon Hovercraft
Encyclopedia
Griffon Hoverwork Ltd is a British hovercraft
designer and manufacturer. It was founded after Griffon Hovercraft Ltd of Southampton, and Hoverwork Ltd of the Isle of Wight, were acquired by the Bland Group
in 2008, then merged in 2009 .
. A unique aspect of the Griffon line is that all models are powered by marine diesel engines. Griffon Hoverwork was the first hovercraft manufacturer to power their craft with marine diesel engines, which they claim provides greater durability when operating the craft in salt water
conditions.
Griffon hovercraft are mainly used for civilian transport, military, and life guard operations. They are regarded as commercial craft for heavy duty applications, rather than as leisure craft.
The company also performs experimental design work. They designed and produced an experimental trimaran ferry boat for operation on the River Thames
in London. Also hovering crop-sprayers, hovering cricket-pitch covers for Lord's Cricket Ground
, and a hovering reed-cutter for a company in Austria.
This is only done when a client requests such consultancy services.
("RNLI"), Korean National Maritime Police Agency ("KNMPA"), Pakistan Navy
, Swedish Coast Guard
, Polish Border Guard, Estonian Border Guard, Lithuanian Border Police, Klaipėda
.
In 2008 a Griffon 380TD entered service with Avon Fire and Rescue Service
.
Griffon Hoverwork has sold over 150 hovercraft in the crash rescue and search & rescue roles throughout the world. They are also used for public ferry services, surveys, dredging and civil engineering support, mud and weed sampling, and pipeline inspection.
In 2010, Griffon bid for work on the Ship-to-Shore Connector
, which would replace the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC).
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
designer and manufacturer. It was founded after Griffon Hovercraft Ltd of Southampton, and Hoverwork Ltd of the Isle of Wight, were acquired by the Bland Group
Bland Group
The Bland Group Ltd. is made up of a number of small operating companies based in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.-History:The Gaggero family has been running the business since 1891 although the company began in 1810 when Marcus Henry Bland, from Liverpool began a shipping company from...
in 2008, then merged in 2009 .
History
Before the merger with Hoverwork, Griffon Hovercraft Ltd(founded 1976) was one of the oldest manufacturers of larger sized hovercraft. In the 1960s the company's founder, Dr E.W.H. Gifford, was one of the early hovercraft pioneers and was involved with the first commercial hovercraft operation. At the time of the merger in March 2009 the company was run by John Gifford, the founder's son.Models
Griffon Hoverwork produces a range of hovercraft ranging from 5 to 180 person carrying capacity. Their hovercraft are mainly built from aluminium, while parts of the cabins are constructed from glass-reinforced plasticGlass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
. A unique aspect of the Griffon line is that all models are powered by marine diesel engines. Griffon Hoverwork was the first hovercraft manufacturer to power their craft with marine diesel engines, which they claim provides greater durability when operating the craft in salt water
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
conditions.
Griffon hovercraft are mainly used for civilian transport, military, and life guard operations. They are regarded as commercial craft for heavy duty applications, rather than as leisure craft.
The company also performs experimental design work. They designed and produced an experimental trimaran ferry boat for operation on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in London. Also hovering crop-sprayers, hovering cricket-pitch covers for Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
, and a hovering reed-cutter for a company in Austria.
This is only done when a client requests such consultancy services.
Military and Rescue applications
Griffon's hovercraft, primarily versions of their light weight Griffon 2000 TDX class ACV, have been purchased by military and rescue organisations such as the British Royal Marines, the British Royal National Lifeboat InstitutionRoyal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
("RNLI"), Korean National Maritime Police Agency ("KNMPA"), Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
, Swedish Coast Guard
Swedish Coast Guard
The Swedish Coast Guard is a Swedish civilian government agency tasked with:* maritime surveillance and other control and inspection tasks as well as environmental cleanup after oil spills at sea....
, Polish Border Guard, Estonian Border Guard, Lithuanian Border Police, Klaipėda
Klaipeda
Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County....
.
In 2008 a Griffon 380TD entered service with Avon Fire and Rescue Service
Avon Fire and Rescue Service
Avon Fire & Rescue Service is the fire and rescue service covering the unitary authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire in South West England.-History:...
.
Griffon Hoverwork has sold over 150 hovercraft in the crash rescue and search & rescue roles throughout the world. They are also used for public ferry services, surveys, dredging and civil engineering support, mud and weed sampling, and pipeline inspection.
In 2010, Griffon bid for work on the Ship-to-Shore Connector
Ship-to-Shore Connector
The Ship-to-Shore Connector is a system proposed by the US Navy as a replacement for the Landing Craft Air Cushion It will offer increased capacity, to cope with the growing weight of equipment used by the army and marines.-History:...
, which would replace the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC).
See also
- British Hovercraft CorporationBritish Hovercraft CorporationBritish Hovercraft Corporation was the corporate entity created when the Saunders Roe division of Westland Aircraft and Vickers Supermarine combined March 1966 with the intention of creating viable commercial hovercraft - .None of the Vickers designs were 'taken forward', the...
- Christopher CockerellChristopher CockerellSir Christopher Sydney Cockerell CBE FRS was an English engineer, inventor of the hovercraft.-Life:Cockerell was born in Cambridge, where his father, Sir Sydney Cockerell, was curator of the Fitzwilliam Museum, having previously been the secretary of William Morris. Christopher Cockerell was...
- Inventor of the Hovercraft
External links
- Griffon Hoverwork
- Griffon Hovercraft official website
- Griffon Hovercraft video Video on YouTube