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THE ARMADILLO PROJECT

Posted on Saturday 12th March 2011

The Armadillo Project -

Black2Black The Great Hovercraft Expedition

We would like to introduce “the Armadillo Project” and “Black2Black Great Hovercraft Expedition” (Black Forest to the Black Sea). The Armadillo Project, is planning a series of events, and participation at events, which will lead to the first trans-Danubian river journey by hovercraft called “Black 2 Black” (Black Forest to the Black Sea). The purpose of this expedition is to be the first to travel by hovercraft along the entire length of the river Danube from it´s start at Donaueschingen (Black Forest Germany), where the rivers Brigach and Breg join.

The expedition will journey down the entire river which flows through—or forms a part of the borders of—ten countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Vilkove Ukraine (0km mark), before emptying into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta. This will equate to a World Record which has never been set before (travel by a hovercraft).

The expedition is expected to take about 20 days, but we could very easily make this into a longer expedition, by staying at numerous locations along the Danube for longer periods of time. The actual expedition will be done by myself, and I will have a team travelling along the Danube via 4X4 and trailer, with meet ups along the way at various pre-determined locations (attending local venues, and promoting our sponsors).

Hovercrafting in Great Britain - As the hovercraft was invented by Sir Christopher Cockerell in the 1950´s, hovercrafting has always been associated with Britain. To date the most hovercraft in the world can be found in the UK, and as such, the Armadillo Project is proud to be associated with the Hovercraft Club of Great Britain (HCGB), and the Hovercraft Museum. As part of our event series, the UK will play a very important part, as we attend many of the races and events that are organised by the HCGB in preparation for the longest hovercraft expedition in it´s category (small cruising craft 2-3 person).

The goals of the expedition are the following -

To promote the leisure, sport and professional use of hovercraft.
To shine a light on the eco-system of the river Danube, it´s importance and the diversity of culture within the trans-Danubian region.
To encourage out door activities, adventures and extreme sports and extreme motor sports.
To bring into light the importance of Hovercraft Rescue, and to highlight the importance of flood rescue, the importance of CSR of companies who share the Danube with the communities.

As hovercraft is a vehicle which is extremely eye-catching, and presents itself as a real crowd maker the interest to the general public is guaranteed, we have found that even while on trailer, people gather round the hovercraft. We have equally seen a great interest by professional use, whether it be for flood rescue or other commercial use (such as mobile platform).

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