N500 Naviplane
Encyclopedia
The N500 Naviplane was a French hovercraft
built by SEDAM (Société d'Etude et de Développement des Aéroglisseurs Marins) in Pauillac
, Gironde
.
The N500 was one of the world's largest hovercraft; it could transport 400 passengers, 55 cars and 5 buses. It was also one of the fastest and reached a speed record for a travel from Boulogne to Dover at an average speed of 74 knots (137 km/h).
The mass of the N500 was 260 tons, it was 50 m long and 23 m wide.
1 co-pilot.
Seated side by side in the cockpit.
1 radar-navigator seated at the rear part of the cockpit.
6 to 8 stewardess.
6 stower-men for the cars.
Rudder pedals control the two aerials rudders.
Two thrust levers controls power of the two lifting gas turbines.
Obturation flaps system between the air cushion chamber and the skirts providing additional longitudinal and lateral control.
Later modification (1983) includes:
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...
built by SEDAM (Société d'Etude et de Développement des Aéroglisseurs Marins) in Pauillac
Pauillac
Pauillac is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-Wine:The commune consists of only 3000 acres of vineyards in the Haut-Médoc between the villages of Saint-Julien to the south and Saint-Estèphe to the north, but is home to three of Bordeaux's five...
, Gironde
Gironde
For the Revolutionary party, see Girondists.Gironde is a common name for the Gironde estuary, where the mouths of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge, and for a department in the Aquitaine region situated in southwest France.-History:...
.
Manufacture
Two models were built:- N500-01 - "Côte d'Argent" First flight on April 19, 1977 on the GirondeGironde estuaryThe Gironde is a navigable estuary , in southwest France and is formed from the meeting of the rivers Dordogne and Garonne just below the centre of Bordeaux...
, demonstrating a speed of 40-45 knots (74–83 km/h). She was destroyed by a fire at its construction site on May 3, 1977. - N500-02 - "Ingénieur Jean Bertin" (built 1977). Built for SeaspeedSeaspeedSeaspeed was the joint hovercraft operations of British Rail in association with the French SNCF....
by SNCFSNCFThe SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
. Transferred to HoverspeedHoverspeedHoverspeed, formed in 1981 by the merger of Seaspeed and Hoverlloyd, was a ferry company that operated on the English Channel from 1981 until 2005....
in 1983 after a number of modifications but is returned to SNCF later that year after Hoverspeed decides she is not suitable for their services. Broken up in 1985 at the Boulogne Hoverport.
The N500 was one of the world's largest hovercraft; it could transport 400 passengers, 55 cars and 5 buses. It was also one of the fastest and reached a speed record for a travel from Boulogne to Dover at an average speed of 74 knots (137 km/h).
The mass of the N500 was 260 tons, it was 50 m long and 23 m wide.
French merchant navy registration
- N500-01 "Côte d'Argent" : LV 365.832 (port of Le Verdon, Gironde estuary).
- N500-02 "Jean Bertin" : BL 341.931 (port of Boulogne Sur Mer).
Crew
1 pilot.1 co-pilot.
Seated side by side in the cockpit.
1 radar-navigator seated at the rear part of the cockpit.
6 to 8 stewardess.
6 stower-men for the cars.
Flight control
Flight yokes controls the horizontal tail wing (elevator), propeller pitch and the thrust power of the 3 propulsion gas turbinesRudder pedals control the two aerials rudders.
Two thrust levers controls power of the two lifting gas turbines.
Obturation flaps system between the air cushion chamber and the skirts providing additional longitudinal and lateral control.
Later modification (1983) includes:
- A third rudder on the middle engine pylon.
- Four air vents systems providing additional lateral control at low speed.
Specifications (N500)
- Maximum continuous power: 16,000 shp
- Gas turbines revolution (max continuous): 14,500rpm
- Max Fuel: 20 metrics tons.
- Fuel consumption: 247gal/engine/hour, fuel type: Kerosene JP4/TR4.
- Oil capacity: 500 kg ?
- Propeller number: 3.
- Propeller diameter: 6.40 m.
- Propeller blades: 4. variable pitch with reverse
- Propeller manufacturers: Hawker Siddeley and Ratier-Figeac
- Propeller speed: 640 rpm