sold to the NPL for future research, HDL renamed it HU-4. CC5 One 6/8 seater CC5 was built, during tests off Priory Bay (Isle of Wight) it capsized and was written off in October 1966. CC6 The CC6 concept hovercraft was designed circa 1966. This was to be a small vehicle/passenger craft (4 to 6 cars and 30 to 40 passengers) using the quiet centrifugal fan configuration for lift and propulsion developed from the CC4 and CC5. The Cushioncraft CC-6 18-ton mixed-traffic ferry craft was to be built jointly by the Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilding group at Portsmouth. This was the effect of an agreement between Vosper and Cushioncraft, under which Vosper were to be major sub-contractors in the construction of the craft. Development was to be financed jointly by Cushioncraft and the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC). Cushioncraft's facilities at St Helen's, IoW, were considered inadequate for CC-6 production. CC7 The CC7 was a development of the CC5, built in aluminium with inflatable side decks - the first Cushioncraft to use a gas turbine engine (all previous being piston). A stretched version offering 17 passenger places was proposed after the company was taken over by BHC. Power Plant Lift and thrust engine: one United Aircraft of Canada ST-6B60DK marine gas turbine (a modified Pratt & Whitney Canada ST6) developing 390 b.h.p. at 6,000 r.p:m. Dimensions Overall length 24 ft 4in; overall beam 15 ft 2in; beam with sidebodies deflated 7 ft 6in; height 7 ft 8in. The craft, with spares, will fit a standard air-freighting crate 30 ft X 8 ft X 8 ft in size. Accommodation Seats for two crew and six passengers plus two extra folding seats for passengers in doorways. Weights Empty 2,880lb; payload 2,120lb; all-up weight 5,000lb. Performance Max speed 50kt; max gradient 1 in 6; max endurance with standard HOgal tank 2hr; hard structure clearance lft. Later years After Cushioncraft was taken over by BHC, the "unique" fan lift/propulsion arrangement design of the later quiet Cushioncraft vehicles was discontinued. The Duver Works has since been used by Hovertravel/Hoverwork as a maintenance centre and in the 1980s/90s was used to fit out the AP1-88 craft. References Further reading External links English hovercraft of the 1960s https://www.bartiesworld.co.uk/hovercraft/index.php More details of the cushioncraft including pictures https://www.bartiesworld.co.uk/hovercraft/cushioncraft.php Manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom Companies based on the Isle of Wight Hovercraft manufacturers