They had a sound all their own...its just unfortunate they were taken out of service...but. times change and things move on...but it was by far my favorite way to cross the channel
I worked in the engineering dept in Dover for a summer on these beauties. rebuilding the lift fans. They were huge and very loud. i lived about 2 miles away and could still hear them at home
the biggest hovercraft in the world, considering they were built in the 60s thats some going.. over 56 meters long and 320 tons, even the very first mk1s could do 83 knots. they could cross the channel in less than 30 mins with one doing it in 22 mins fully loaded. they also use the largest props ever used. the MK3s had four 3800 shp Rolls Royce Proteus engines.. only the new russian military hovercraft are slightly bigger..
Can't blame you, Oxfordshire's pretty lovely! I believe the reason they ceased operating the hovercrafts was due to competition from the Channel Tunnel, mainly the increased demand for transporting cars, which the Channel Tunnel trains can carry a lot more of. It's especially sad when you learn that right up until they stopped operating, the hovercrafts were still profitable...
Indeed, I've been down to Portsmouth numerous times just to ride the hovercraft over to the Isle of Wight. Keep meaning to go again as they introduced a new model a little while ago which I'm keen to have a go in.
Unbelievable. The flames spitting out the back remind me of the concorde (before they ruined that), of the the World Rally Championship with the flame spitting, exhaust exploding monsters (before they ruined that) and of course they ruined the hovercraft too. So many things DON'T change for the better.
Must have been awesome, I always wanted to get a ride on an SRN4, but it never happened. At least you can still ride a hovercraft over to the Isle if Wight, though it's not the same.
They had a sound all their own...its just unfortunate they were taken out of service...but. times change and things move on...but it was by far my favorite way to cross the channel
colinclarke1000 8 months ago
I worked in the engineering dept in Dover for a summer on these beauties. rebuilding the lift fans. They were huge and very loud. i lived about 2 miles away and could still hear them at home
thebrightonickabod 9 months ago
the biggest hovercraft in the world, considering they were built in the 60s thats some going.. over 56 meters long and 320 tons, even the very first mk1s could do 83 knots. they could cross the channel in less than 30 mins with one doing it in 22 mins fully loaded. they also use the largest props ever used. the MK3s had four 3800 shp Rolls Royce Proteus engines.. only the new russian military hovercraft are slightly bigger..
fairclought7 1 year ago
@fairclought7 Bristol Proteus!!!
fairclought7 1 year ago
so wat engines powered them then? they sound like jrt engines??
kratos32godofwar 2 years ago
ya jet engines. first, the sound, second, watch when the second engine starts up you can see fire come out the back of the hovercraft
imwatching22 2 years ago
Bristol proteus turbines.
cjdrange 1 year ago
Amazing sound. Wonder how fast a hovercraft would go with jet engines instead of props!
Rumpio 2 years ago
bring em back
MegaMilehigh 2 years ago
You can't really tell here but those things are LOUD.
The US Navy's LCAC's are ridiculously loud.
You'll have no problem hearing the Marines coming..
Tamaslammer 3 years ago 3
No beach out of reach - and no beach out of earshot either...
Sebstantial 3 years ago 2
wut kind of engines do they have????
777worldliner 3 years ago
They had 4 Rolls Royce marine gnome gas turbines each producing 950hp.
islandexpl0rer 3 years ago
why'd they stop.. I'm form oxfordshire.. I don't get out much
afteq 3 years ago
Can't blame you, Oxfordshire's pretty lovely! I believe the reason they ceased operating the hovercrafts was due to competition from the Channel Tunnel, mainly the increased demand for transporting cars, which the Channel Tunnel trains can carry a lot more of. It's especially sad when you learn that right up until they stopped operating, the hovercrafts were still profitable...
Sebstantial 3 years ago
There is still a service from southsea, they go out every day at least, i was out sailing last night and one went across leeonsolent..
Sascom129 3 years ago
That's insanely brilliant
afteq 3 years ago
Indeed, I've been down to Portsmouth numerous times just to ride the hovercraft over to the Isle of Wight. Keep meaning to go again as they introduced a new model a little while ago which I'm keen to have a go in.
Sebstantial 3 years ago
They became too uneconomical fuel wise, due 2 aging engines, they were real fuel guzzlers.
dccodring21 3 years ago
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shit takes forever
Zachthesmack 3 years ago
wow is big and small!!!
sdrfgvrfgvsfravgdsvS 4 years ago
Unbelievable. The flames spitting out the back remind me of the concorde (before they ruined that), of the the World Rally Championship with the flame spitting, exhaust exploding monsters (before they ruined that) and of course they ruined the hovercraft too. So many things DON'T change for the better.
ApolloSaturnV 4 years ago
God what a Monster! Bring back the Beauty!!
akulaclass17 4 years ago
Must have been awesome, I always wanted to get a ride on an SRN4, but it never happened. At least you can still ride a hovercraft over to the Isle if Wight, though it's not the same.
Sebstantial 4 years ago
almost sounds like JT-8Ds when starting. Does anyone know what type of engines power this?
velocityflier16 5 years ago
It uses Rolls Royce Marine Proteus gas turbines.
Sebstantial 5 years ago
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a form of jet engins in non nerd speak
Jamz98 4 years ago
No, It's a gas turbine moron.
Percivilemonty 4 years ago 5