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CARL XCH-4 This 16,500 lb, 53 foot craft was known officially as "Experimental Craft Hydrofoil No. 4," unofficially as "The Carl Boat" after its principal designer, William P. Carl. It had a seaplane type hull supported by two sets of foils forward, and a single strut and foil aft. Two 250 hp Pratt and Whitney R-985 aircraft engines with two-bladed controllable pitch propellers 8 ft in diameter provided the trust to carry this craft to the highest speed attained since those achieved by Alexander Graham Bell’s HD-4. During trials of the CARL XCH-4 in 1953, the crafts design speed of 65 mph was exceeded in three to four foot waves. During US Navy tests off Long Island NY, someone called the US Coast Guard to report that "A seaplane had been trying unsuccessfully to take off and undoubtedly needed help" an understandable error in view of the craft’s appearance!
Additional description from Chuck Tilgner, August 2007
It was designed by Dynanmic Developments Inc. I think in the early 1950s. I went to
work for them in 1956 and the project had been completed by then. Dynamic
Developments was owned by William P. Carl and Dr. Robert R. Gilruth. I don't
recall the details of who built the hull or foils. I see that Bob Johnston was an
early Officer of your organization. I think he might recall some of the
details. I think it recorded a speed of 70 knots during its trials. I'm not sure but
my guess is that the program was under the U. S. Office of Naval Research.
This model was for sale in August 2004 on Ebay with this description
This is another neat item from the estate, a vintage ship's model from the Naval Ship Reasearch and Development Center in Washington, D.C. This XCH-4 Canard hydrofoil model measures about 26" in length, 13" in width and about 9-1/2" in height on the post. It is made of wood and steel. The display case has a wooden base and the cover is made of real glass making it very heavy. The case measures overall 29"x16"x13".
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