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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by tomtrain Vsmith, Has anyone proposed the idea of a "speedboat" that could skim the ocean among the coastal cities? There's a group in Chicago that has floated the idea of offering a hovercraft service between Navy Pier in Chicago and Milwaukee's harbor on Lake Michigan. Just a thought. [/quote] I saw a proposal for a ground effects air vehicle, it looked like an aircraft fuselage with large but clipped wings. The plane was to "fly" only about 50 feet over the surface at up to 300mph using the aerodynamic lift generated by the combined effects of the wing surface and the airflow under the vehicle. The purpose being that they could build a vehicle that could carry very heavy loas a plane couldnt lift and was much faster than a steamship. The Russian (bless there hearts, they'll try anything) actually built several prototypes, but found them not cost effectient, slower than a regular plane and burned alot more fuel. they were also prone to wave generated turbulance under the plane and to actual wave damage if the seas got too rough. [/quote] The Soviets were planning to use the ground effect vehicles as fast combat assault craft, simililar to the LCACs (hover craft) that the USN/USMC use, only with much greater range, payload and speed. They tested prototypes in the Black sea. But as i recall you are correct that they did not perform as well as hoped in rougher sea states. Now back to California bashing...... So where exactly is all the money in CA going???? I've lived in TX and FL, were service fees, sales and property taxes are high, but no income tax and they seem to get by okay as far as state services. I've lived in Commonwealth of VA where your money becomes common wealth. They have moderate to low sales tax, moderate income tax, low service fees (except auto tax, which I think they got rid of) and reasonable property taxes. Their roads, schools, services, facilities, FDs, PDs, all all excellent. I've lived in Maine...Taxationland...sales tax moderate, property tax high, income tax high, they don't have a lot of folks living there, a bunch on welfare and half the population is actually from Mass and somehow avoid paying taxes to Maine. Their state services are fair to marginal. ....if it wasn't for volunteer FDs and snow the freakin state would burn down. They've driven out most of the business too. But they manage to get by. ...just barely. California which has high income, sales, property, until recently auto, and it seems just plain living taxes, high service fees, fees and fees and fees.........and taxes on the fees and a strong economy..unlike Maine can't get it's act together and is running 37 billion in the red or so, and doesn't have enough money to fight the wild fires but REFUSES the Navy's help to provide helicopter...because hovering over a fire and dropping water on it is a "specialized skill???" Let see, you're good enough to land on a hot LZ to drop troops....or land on a postage stamp that's bobbing up in down in high seas at night but sorry ...not good enough to drop a bucket o' water on the fires..... ....and they are expected to come up with a rational HSR plan? [/quote]
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