- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: HOVERCRAFT SOUGHT BY CONGO-KINSHASA DIAMOND COMPANY.
- Date: 21st November 1969
- Summary: CRAFT LEAVING HANGAR AND ENTERING WATER; CRAFT TRAVELLING OVER WATER AND ACROSS MUDBANK; CRAFT BACK TO HANGAR; DOCUMENTS HANDED OVER. Initials GL/VS/AE/OS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 6th December 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BEMBRIDGE/ISLE OF WIGHT, UK
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVAAQ6P00CZZ9MPA22DM4EWZ1X1O
- Story Text: MIBA (SOCIETE MINIERE DE BAKWANGA), THE CONGO-KINSHASA CORPORATION WHICH MINES THE KASAI DIAMOND FIELD, HAS BOUGHT A BRITISH-MADE HOVERCRAFT. THE MACHINE, A CUSHIONCRAFT CC-7 WILL BE USED FOR PERSONNEL AND CARGO TRANSPORT AND FOR SURVEY IN REMOTE AREAS WHERE NO OTHER SURFACE VEHICLE CAN OPERATE.
THE CUSHIONCRAFT, SEEN HERE UNDERGOING FINAL TRIALS BEFORE ITS HANDOVER, COSTS GBP45,000 STERLING (108,000 DOLLARS). MIBA PLANS SOME 1,500 HOURS OF OPERATION PER YEAR ON THE CONGO AND TRIBUTARIES. THE COMPANY ALREADY OPERATES FOUR HELICOPTERS AND THREE AIRCRAFT.
THE HOVERCRAFT WILL BE SHIPPED FROM LONDON TO LOBITO, ANGOLA, AND COMPLETE ITS JOURNEY TO KASAI BY TRAIN.
THE CUSHIONCRAFT CC-7 IS CAPABLE OF OVER 40 KNOTS ON LAND OR WATER. THE FANS WHICH PROPEL IT ARE DRIVEN BY A MARINE GAS TURBINE. AT LEAST TWO MORE ARE DESTINED FOR AFRICA IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE SWISS AGENTS FOR THE FRENCH-SPEAKING NATIONS ARE CURRENTLY COMPLETING NEGOTIATIONS FOR TWO TO BE OPERATED BY A GABONESE COMPANY.
CAPTAIN YVAN DUPONT, WHO IS TO COMMAND THE MIBA CRAFT, HAS JUST FINISHED A HOVERCRAFT TRAINING COURSE IN BRITAIN.
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