HOVERCRAFT ( The History Of )

Hovercraft ( The History Of )

Written by : Jeffrey R Hilton

The first Hovercraft was invented by Christopher Cockerell in 1956.  He invented the first commercial Hovercraft, the SRN 1.  Cockerell born in 1910,  worked first,  for a radio research company until 1935,  when he started on with the  Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company. During the war years, he worked on a team to develop radar.  He patented 36 of his ideas and was knighted,   "Sir Christopher Cockerell" in 1969.


The Hovercraft is simple a craft,  supported on a cushion of air supplied by powered fans or a fan mounted on the craft.  Hovercraft are used extensively throughout the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe.  They are not a safe mode of transportation in overly rough seas as they lose the ability to maintain a consistent cushion of air between the craft and the water.  Hovercraft passenger services are usually cancelled in rough weather.  having said that,  so are the big Car Ferries.  Below are a few pictures of various Hovercraft.

There are many types and sizes of Hovercraft,  and the crafts were designed and converted for military use during WWII.

The giant Hovercraft seen in the photo below is a car ferry that used to ferry people and cars back and forth between England and France,  using the Channel.  The service was eventually cancelled due to the high cost of keeping fuel in the less than fuel efficient craft.  This photo below is at the only known Hovercraft Museum in the world, at HMS, Daedalus,  former RAF, Air Base in Lee On  Solent,  Hampshire, U.K.   When the Seaplanes were based there in 1911,  they had to be transported to the beach for launch as there was no slipway leading from the base to the beach below until a few years later.  I worked at HMS Daedalus in 1996 and was amazed by all the Hovercrafts displayed at the museum.    

Hovercraft Museum At HMS Daedalus

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YouTube Video
 Southsea To Isle Of Wight Hovercraft Service
Leaving Southsea

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If you ever get a chance to travel by Hover, don't pass it up,  it's a fun way to travel and relatively fast.  I've taken this hover to the Island and back a few times while living in Southsea,   and I was never disappointed.  The Hovercraft lands in Ryde on The Isle Of Wight.  It's a summer vacation mecca for anyone and everyone and was home to more than 142,500 permanent residents,  as of 2011.   The Hovercraft station is in Southsea at the Clarence Pier,  and a trip to the Isle Of Wight to explore it's many seaside towns or just stay in Ryde is a great place for a summer holiday. 

Russian Military Hovercraft

Ryde Isle Of Wight

Southsea

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Do Have A Good Day And Hover.


Jeffrey R Hilton


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