Craft and Equipment: SPECTRUM HOVERCRAFT   

CAPTAIN SCARLET and the MYSTERONS UNOFFICIAL WEBSITE

by Chris Bishop

UPDATES: 25 August, 2003:  New photo added - link to Koala Base page added

Information in the following  has been taken from many sources, especially from "CENTURY 21" No.15, Winter 1993, Special Captain Scarlet Issue".

Captain Scarlet Annual 1968 have provided additional information, such as cutaway and picture.

SPECTRUM HOVERCRAFT

Data from Spectrum files withheld.  Due to security reasons, Spectrum will not release many of the specific details of the Spectrum Hovercraft.

Known facts:  These hovercrafts are powered by fixed, pre-spin rotors and revolving rotor blades, which act as air-impellors to drive incoming air downwards to the air-cushion outlets to lift the hovercraft off the ground/water.  These four seater vehicles presumably constructed at Spectrum's Koala, cadet-centre and hovercraft base, Australia, utilize a special form of fuel from the Spectrum refinery at Bensheba.  The hovercrafts are made from conventional sea vehicle materials and are blue and white in colouration.

NOTES;  Information given in episode 21 differs from that given in the official Scarlet annuals by stating that these hovercrafts use Thermionic Converters, which generate electrical energy by a heat exchanger system used to heat the air-fuel mixture, as a power source.

TECHNICAL DATA :

1. Control cabin Forward seats and consoles for pilot and co-pilot, those at rear for observers.

2. Rear compartment with exit doors, stores and eating and resting facilities for use on long patrols.

3. Instrument nacelle recording wind-speed, airspeed, etc.

4. Fixed rotor pre-spins air.

5. Revolving rotor drives air downwards to air cushion outlets.

6. Bevels-box and drive serving rotor.

7. Tail-plane and rudder.

8. Gearbox.

9. Drive motor.

10. Transformer and standby battery.

11. Thermionic converter (generates electric current by heat action).

12. Primary heat exchanger.

13. Neutron generator.

14. Compressor turbine.

15. Secondary heat exchanger heats air fuel mixture.

16. Reheat booster.

17. Fuel tank.

18. Fuel pump.

19. Air pump pressurises lower fuel tank as fuel is withdrawn.

20. Cable ducts in rotor funnel walls.

21. Air-stream to cushion outlets.

22. Inflated curtain prevents loss of air cushion.

KOALA BASE

KOALA BASE UNIFORM