| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | N.300 Naviplane |
| Builders | SEDAM |
| Operators | Société Naviplane (ferry service), Department de la Gironde (ferry service), French Navy (test evaluation) |
| Preceded by | Naviplane N102 |
| Succeeded by | N500 Naviplane |
| Built | 1967-1968 |
| In service | 1968-1972 |
| In commission | 1969-1972 |
| Planned | 2 |
| Building | 2 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| Scrapped | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | hovercraft |
| Length | 23.3 metres (76 ft) |
| Beam | 11.1 metres (36 ft) |
| Height | 8 metres (26 ft) |
| Decks | 1 |
| Ramps | 2 |
| Installed power | 2 x 1,217 kW (1,632 hp) - (based on IIIC3) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Turbomeca Turmo III-D3 engine[1] |
| Speed | Maximum 65 knots (120 km/h) / Cruising 50 knots (92 km/h) |
| Capacity | 110 (Baie des Anges modified in 1971 to carry 38 passengers and 4 cars) |
| Crew | 2 (pilot and co-pilot),?[2] (cabin crew) |
The N.300 Naviplane was a French 30-ton multipurpose Air-cushion vehicle built by SEDAM (Société d'Etude et de Développement des Aéroglisseurs Marins) for the Naviplane series of Aéroglisseur (Hovercraft).
This was a series of multi-skirt hovercraft built by SEDAM using and developing the skirt designs by French engineer Jean Bertin. The series included the Naviplane N102, the Naviplane N300 and the N500 Naviplane, the N300 Naviplane was the first full-scale Naviplane designed for commercial use.[3]
Two N.300 were built by SEDAM:[4]
After 1973 both craft were stored by SEDAM in Pauillac until the firm ceased operations. Baie des Anges was sold to restaurateur in Maubuisson as floating restaurant, but plan never materialized. Returned to SEDAM, Baie des Anges and La Croisette were scrapped after 1983.