page_title: British Hovercraft Corporation AP1-88
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: British Hovercraft Corporation AP1-88 / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Ein AP1-88/100 Hovercraft verlässt Southsea in Richtung Isle of Wight
context_page_description: The British Hovercraft Corporation AP1-88 is a medium-size hovercraft. In a civil configuration, the hovercraft can seat a maximum of 101 passengers, while as a troop carrier, it can transport up to 90 troops. When operated as a military logistics vehicle, the AP1-88 can carry a pair of Land Rovers, a Bv202 tracked vehicle and trailer unit or up to roughly 10 tons of cargo.
  The AP1-88 had several advantages over earlier hovercraft in terms of its increased fuel economy and reduced noise output, which is principally due to the decision to power the craft using several diesel engines instead of using gas turbine engines, the latter having been used on earlier craft.
  Since the 1980s, a pair of AP1-88-100s have been operated in Britain by Hovertravel on a route from Southsea in Hampshire to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Outside of the United Kingdom, vehicles of the type have also been operated in a various of locations around the world, including Norway, Australia, China, and Taiwan. The AP1-88 has been constructed under licence in Australia and China.
context_section_description: In March 1983, the first AP1-88, which had been named Tenacity by Cockerell, was completed. Three months later, the second vehicle, named Resolution, was also completed; it was promptly sold to the United States Navy. In 1985, a third AP1-88, Perseverance, was launched just prior to BHC's 20th anniversary.
  British hovercraft operator Hovertravel procured a pair of AP1-88-100s for conducting scheduled passenger service. However, the company found that the vehicles lacked the power to operate in the presence of strong headwinds, alleging that the type would be unable traverse the intended route at winds in excess of 30 knots and that engine damage could be incurred. In response, the company decided to rebuild both of their AP1-88-100s; the modification involved slightly extending the vehicles' length by 3 feet and replacing all 4 Deutz AG engines with a pair of more powerful MTU engines. The engine change resulted in considerably more power being available, however this did not increase the craft's passenger capacity.
  Two different versions of the AP1-88 have been operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. In the mid 1990s two AP1-88s, the AP1-88/200 and AP1-88/400, were ordered from GKN Westland Aerospace; the contract being awarded in 1996. These hovercraft were constructed by Hike Metal Products, located in Wheatley, Ontario. The two 400 series were completed in August and December 1998. Canadian vehicles include the CCGS Waban-Aki, AP1-88/200, CCGS Sipu Muin, AP1-88/400, and CCGS Siyay, AP1-88/400.
caption: An AP1-88-100 near the Isle of Wight, August 2000
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