Jet Boat (1960)

M/S of two jet boats racing across a lake towards the camera; panning shot to show a Dowty Turbocraft jet speedboat on a carrier in Cirencester. We see Development Engineer John Ford-Crush climbing into the boat; apprentice engineer Norris Simmonds standing at the rear. C/U of Mr FC sitting at the controls to test them, then turning round look at the rear of the boat. C/U of winch at rear of the boat, tilting down to show a kind of rudder mechanism swinging from side to side. C/Us showing the controls in the boat and engine; when Mr FC pushes a lever forward a shutter drops over a hole at the rear of the boat. The commentator says "in place of the usual propeller and rudder, a simple nozzle containing steering vanes which emits the jet stream - not of air but of water... the jet unit (powered by a car engine) sucks in water through a grille in the bottom of the hull and shoots it out through the back at tremendous pressure". M/S of Mr FC in the boat as it reverses out onto the lake and drives off, doing several right angle turns and U-turns. M/Ss of Mr FC in the boat as it speeds along, the rear of the boat showing the wake; C/U showing the rudder. Various M/Ss and C/Us of the boat speeding along then M/S of the boat coming in to shore, driving right up onto the beach then coming to a halt. M/S of three boats as they cruise past the camera side by side. The drivers of the other boats are Mike O'Brien (in the centre boat with dark hair) and Frank Regan. M/Ss of the three boats as they speed past and show turning ability. C/Us of Mr FC at the controls of the boat with the other two in the background and steering the wheel as he makes a turn. M/S of the three boats reaching top speed in only 4 inches of water; speeding past two men standing ankle deep in water. M/S Point of view shot from the rear boat of the other two ahead. M/S of the three boats as they come in towards the beach, where all three come to a halt and the men start to climb out. Note: this print used for telecine transfer is quite badly scratched; part of the mute neg for this story is missing. On file are two newspaper cuttings and 3 good 10 x 8 b & w prints of the Turbocraft. The design consultant was Fred Cooper who designed Miss England I and II and the original Bluebird. FILM ID:101.09 FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT http://www.britishpathe.com/