A BRITISH SRN-6 HOVERCRAFT, CURRENTLY TOURING AFRICA, GAVE A DEMONSTRATION IN ABIDJAN ON MONDAY FOR TOP IVORY COAST OFFICIALS.

AMONG THE PARTY WHO BOARDED THE HOVERCRAFT FOR A TRIAL RUN AROUND EBRIE LAGOON, ABIDJAN, WERE MR. GRAH KADJI, IVORY COAST MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR, MR. DUDLEY JOHN CHEKE.

THE HOVERCRAFT ARRIVED IN THE IVORY COAST ON FRIDAY AFTER AN AFRICAN JOURNEY OF MORE THAN 5,000 MILES (8,000 KM), BEGINNING AT SAINT LOUIS, SENEGAL, AND CALLING AT MALI, NIGER, NIGERIA, CAMEROUN, THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND CONGO-KINSHASA.

DURING THE JOURNEY BRITISH, FRENCH, AMERICAN AND UNITED NATIONS SCIENTIST STUDIED RIVER NAVIGATION, AGRICULTURE, FLORA AND PROBLEMS CONCERNING YELLOW FEVER, MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES. MANUFACTURERS OF THE SRN-6 ARE ALSO EXPLORING SALES POSSIBILITIES THROUGHOUT AFRICA FOR THEIR CRAFT, WHICH, BEING ABLE TO OPERATE OVER LAND AND WATER, IS PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR AFRICAN CONDITIONS.

WHILE IN ABIDJAN, THE HOVERCRAFT WILL BE DEMONSTRATED TO OFFICER OF THE IVORY COAST ARMY TO UNDERLINE ITS MILITARY POTENTIAL.

AFTER HIS TRIAL RIDE, MR KADJI WAS ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT OF THE HOVERCRAFT: