Someone here will know about this, USN Air Cushion Vehicle

[armyjunk2]

Someone here will know about this, maybe. The photo title is "Gyrodyne USN Air Cushion Vehicle. It has a Porsche engine. any ideas?? its from the Long Island post above...........

[Taylor Stevenson]

that's an expensive Lazy-boy!

[51fixer]

I got something like that to clean the leaves in the yard. Black and Decker I think.
Rich

[Ryan Keough]

I didn't know Ben Stein was a test pilot!

Buehler? Buehler? V2? Rotate?

[coldaffyduck]

Ben Stein????? I thought that this was one of Austin Powers new "gadgets" that he will deny later on.

[Ryan Keough]

Ben Stein????? I thought that this was one of Austin Powers new "gadgets" that he will deny later on.

I don't know about Austin Powers, but I am sure that the Austin Acres Wildlife Refuge, Petting Zoo, Vintage Aircraft Tours, Canoe Rental, & Helicopter Rides (AAWRPZVATCR&HR) could use one for property patrol, but then it would be:

Austin Acres Wildlife Refuge, Petting Zoo, Vintage Aircraft Tours, Canoe Rental, Helicopter Rides & Air Cushion Vehicle Port (AAWRPZVATCRHR&ACVP).

As to more pressing seriousness, I found this on the Flypast Forum - sounds like our mystery vehicle, a Gyrodyne Model GCA-55:

THE GYRODYNE MODEL GCA-55
The Gyrodyne Model 55 in a single-seat ground cushion vehicle of the annular jet type, powered by a 72 h.p. Porsche four-cylinder engine. It was developed under a U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics contract and flew for the first time in October, 1959.

The basic fuselage structure of the Model 55 consists of the modified forward portion of an XRON-1 Rotorcycle, including the pilot's seat, control column, rudder pedals and throttle. The pilot's longitudinal, lateral and directional controls are of the conventional helicopter type. The throttle control is located to the left of the pilot in the position of the collective-pitch control in a helicopter. The cyclic stick and the rudder pedals are connected to a series of vanes located in the annular jet exit.
The vehicle's air duct is bell-shaped and is constructed of aluminium spinnings. The engine is located to the rear and drives an axial-flow fan of 1.025 pressure ratio. Beneath the fan the air is ducted to an annular jet in the periphery of the base and to radial slots in the base. The annular jet produces the elevated static pressure underneath the base which provides lift augmentation. The radial jets tend to compartmentize the pressurized air beneath the base of the vehicle and thus provide positive static stability.

-------------------------------

DIMENSIONS.—
Diameter of air duct 6 ft. (1.83 m.)
Overall height approx. 5 ft. (1.52 m.)
WEIGHTS.—Weight empty 535 lb. (243 kg.)
Max. loaded weight 800 Ib. (363 kg.)
PERFORMANCE.— Operating height above ground approx. 6 in. (15 cm.)

See: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=12620

[armyjunk2]

thank you

[retroaviation]

Just a guess, but I reckon that thing was REALLY LOUD.

Gary

[sgt hawk]

Pancho Goldstein's Lawnmower and Landscraping Service. Hose "A" is the Pilot and Hose "B" & "C" are on the Blowers.

[Mgawa]

Armyjunk and Ryan- thank you for info. It look like that it is dedicated for the basic ground test of the new dynamic vehicle. It is very early test year 1959.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I like the upsided down, "Prototype" Star & Bar between his legs!
Jerry

[Jesse C.]

Was it sponsored by Taco Bell? Si.

[tom d. friedman]

i know something about this thing.......... it's fugly!! looks like a megaphone with a jerry rigged seat!!

[sgt hawk]

Man, "The animals ya see, when you haven't got a gun".

[Chris Brame]

Pancho Goldstein's Lawnmower and Landscraping Service.

Nah. The Navy's marching band just wanted to consolidate their tuba section.