Hovercraft departing from Dover

[mapsyschool]

How long have they been out of service now?

[Albion1983]

@mapsyschool Nearly 11 years. They were taken out of service in October 2000.

[Arabhacks]

Yes, a hovercraft can indeed float, there is an inner floatation skirt, what the thing sits on when the engines are not running.

The reason they were taken out of service is that they were no longer profitable, nor any other sort of ferry, replaced by the chunnel.

I have a home built hovercraft that is based on a tractor innertube that is covered in fabric and a large lawnmower engine.

It is a lot of fun to zip over the water, or grass, or roadway.

Something you can also do.

[stantheman808]

So cool

[pope640]

I'd buy that for a dollar

[Skippy585]

Sounds a bit loud lol.  About like the convair 580.

[albertabi]

I traveled in one of these in 1970, from Calais to Ramsgate, if i'm not mistaken

[tvwhitevanman]

a walk on prince of wales pier isnt the same now without the loud noise these impressive machines used to make-echoing around the western docks harbour

[TheCompactorMan]

@tvwhitevanman as a Dover Man i too totally agree its defintly not the same

[hrhlordwurlibird]

Magnificent machines. You could hear these beasts coming from 8 miles away! Postie2003 is quite right - nothing touches them. Unfortunately in a time where bean counters rule and fun/enjoyment no longer matter it just was not cost effective to run them any more.

There was nothing like watching and hearing those 4 Rolls Royce Marine Proteus turbines light up, being in the craft when the skirts inflated and when the taps were opened once out of Dover or Calais.

RIP SR-N4.

[georgia249]

i live in dover, i wish this still ran from here

[otot556]

silently it floats into the ocean

[porno6361]

@FUCKINROCKIT don't get any in the english channel

[SteamMad]

the best way to cross the channel gone for ever!

[postie2003]

The numbers on this thing are still amazing. 320 tons, 60 cars, 418 passengers, 60 knot (69 mph) cruise, 70 knot (80 mph) max. Nothing waterborne touches it even today.

[predator45655]

what happens if someone gets sucked up underneath it lol

[porno6361]

@predator45655 doesn't suck,it blows

[Necrotwilly]

Wow, that moves incredibly fast. (That's what she said BTW)

[TheChefKev]

The noisy Prop sound is like sex to my ears !

[bus131]

Why were these beasts ever scrapped? Seems like every brilliant invention from the 70's & 80's are being killed off. Concorde, Hovercraft have already gone what next?

[jptanguero]

@bus131 - It was the ending of Duty Free that was the final nail in the coffin - they were still profitable even after they had to compete against the channel tunnel. They were also still the fastest across the channel. Another great British piece of Engineering sacrificed to the money gods, curse them.

[hovercraftmuseum]

Have a look at our newly opened Hovercraft Museum YouTube channel. On there you will find excerpts from DVD's we have available and footage of these mighty Hovercraft arriving at the Museum - their last ever journey...

[andyc5155]

They should at least bring back one. Even as a running day i would certainly pay to ride one of these

[TheHighwayHorse]

@andyc5155 you still can fron southsea portsmouth to ryeide isle of whight in under 10 mins its soo cool

[adfgfds]

Really a shame they retired these. I still think they could have used them for more than just transporting people. Maybe the ones left will someday be restored for excursion purposes.

[Sterlingjob]

@adfgfds Unfortunately they have been laid up for too long and are starting to corrode quite badly. The engines have also been sold off so if you wanted to get it going you'd have to re engine them or get some proteus turbines! I was told 8 years ago they would need around 5-7 million pounds each to get them going again! If i win the lottery watch this space!!

[adfgfds]

@Sterlingjob

Yah, the cost sounds about right. Its the same kind of thing if you want to restore an old steam locomotive around where I live. Maybe not quite that expensive, but its around there. Well.....keep hoping I guess lol!

[BearFlagRebel]

I was fortunate to have gone across the channel both ways(Dover to Calais,Calais to Dover) on these wonderful machines in the summer of 1984.

[SzZsoel1]

Amazing machine!

[aronplas5]

wow, a boat that starts the engine's turns and go away. this is gay vid

[wogboy117]

we should have these instead of ships and all that if there solar powerd why not?

[kazim786]

proudly british ;)

[vamosherbut]

@kazim786 made in china

[kazim786]

@vamosherbut lol..what isnt made in China nowadays?

[VeronavilleFilms]

@kazim786 Just about everything is Made in China, things like toys, computers, cameras, phones, electrical equipment, etc. Also we do not have Concorde flights anymore, which is also a great British invention. We had cars which is made in Britain, such as Mini Cooper. Today, we got nothing but having to deal with Rip-off Britain, such as high living costs, soaring fuel and food prices, soaring debt, and we enjoy the worst quality of life in Europe. Unfortunately, nothing is British anymore

[kazim786]

@VeronavilleFilms totally agree with you :D

[drphobias]

A great Brisitsh invention. Someone should put the Imperial March on top of this video with the original sound taken out..

[K1w1scot]

You know, with all the Eurostar hassles of late, maybe it's time the great N4 made a comeback. After all, as the advert used to say..."it's a lot less bover with a hover"

[traceyskip]

I worked on board as cabin crew for an amazing summer season in '97 and I forgot how monstrous they were! Brought back some great memories, thank you!

[kratos32godofwar]

wow thts looks bloody terrifing and bloody cool at the samr time but i didnt realise they wer still in service in 2000 i thought they went about 20 years ago

[xSpartanCx]

WATCH YOUR HEAD zzzzzz whoops. lol

[brennanthebrown]

yah limey blimey bloody bloak

[Williamnash44]

Awesome video, I used to love watching them go out the harbour (brennanthebrown) it's 'bloke' mate!

[stuartthegrant]

Iconic Dover machines. All gone now as is the Marine station, Night ferry, and many other things. 5*s mate

[MasterHustler]

I like the fact at 1 :11 the props started sycronizing. Sounded and looked awesome. Notice the name just says, HoverCraft.

[K1w1scot]

Tell you what tho, I'd hate to think of th vibration if those props were out of sinc. The noise would be bloody phenomenal.

All in all, truly one of the most impressive ever inventions to come out of Ol' Blighty.

They'll be back!

[DaJohann]

probably one of the coolest things mankind has ever build... :)

[ralphthylo]

@DaJohann One of the loudest too XD

[username12339]

@DaJohann Yea definitely, these and zeppelins hah

[Atleewrestler]

why were they taken out of service

[NeoDerGrose]

Because they where to expensive. But as long as I know the company 's bankrupt because nobody liked the new ferris and it was still expensive to travel with them. If you want a cheap trip, use a regular ferry. If you want a fast trip, use the tunnel. And who would use the "high speed ferris"?

[JasionLady]

i just love hovercrafts

[Wavetalon]

What happens if the engine dies lol, does the boat float?

[Albion1983]

Yes, it does. But you have to be a really big pessimist to expect all four engines to fail at the same time.

[bandaid50]

@Albion1983 Hey it's still possible! :p

[looks911]

@Wavetalon It does yes the deck keeps it floaing.

[leez8]

@Wavetalon what meaning for LOL i don know???

[MackemVa2]

I used to travel to France and beyond in these babies. Pity they were taken out of service. I was 3 the first time I went on these. Used to drive to the border of Russia in a monster sized camper. Those were the days :D

[lewigimole]

that is amazing. imagine what that thing wud av looked lyk in tha 1960's!!!

[a217andy]

wow that s big

[makingprogress]

You have to admit it takes balls to do something this toe-curlingly wet in the sea.

[poddys]

Audio isn't that bad really considering.  Brings back great memories. Thanks.

[LeoneWyhlen]

in 1999, when i was 4 we went to England by it :D

[qwertyconcept]

wow you are now pretty old then

[MackemVa2]

Same, I was 3 and 4 at the time. They were immense, crossed the channel in less than half an hour :D

[DDELE7]

but this hovercraft service was STILL profitable right to the very end. It just couldn't take in enough cars, and it only operated in daylight.

Even though i live in the States, it would have been a thrill to ride on this beast.

[jamesrichardson63]

looks like a corvette from the rear

[ktmnly]

isnt this hovercraft port where they filmed the top gear boat special where they went to france on cars they turned into boats?

[Gingerpex]

not cost effective it had to compete against the likes of the channel tunnel and the seacat which both could carry more cars and passengers

[Lavalambtron]

That's quite impressive, and a bit scary.

[quercous]

cool feeling when this babe used to lift

[wahoe79]

i used to work on the hovercraft from Dover back in 1998 we had such a laugh although i used to survive on sickness tablets!

[pleasehelpsaveus]

Thanks for the video, brings back alot of memories. We used to go on that when i was a kid, i was remember being amazed when it inflated, you couldn't see it from inside, but you could feel yourself getting lifted up.

[MegaBrits]

All those cars, all those people and it could turn on a sixpence and go like the wind.

[AndrzejMastalerz]

Good to see this bit of history.

[sammydenyc]

that's just so hot

[scottscale1]

why they don't use them any more?

[joelang1699]

Old, unreliable, fuel thirsty, can only sail in moderate conditions.

[anthraxman21]

they do though in certain places

[al28041966fitton]

You just don't know what you've got til it's gone!

[MegaBrits]

The Concorde of Ferries.

[juga177]

yeah indeed

[starstorm55522]

FAREWELL TO THY GREATNESS.

[jcodym13]

youd be doomed if you hit a sharp object in the ocean

[derekleathergums]

Same applies to a ship

[redSKORPION50]

they float without the airskirt

[k9maxie]

I used to travel on these quite a lot in the late 80s/early 90s and they were just fantastic. Though they weren't the height of comfort, the service was fast and reliable. What a buzz just to watch them, so impressive. Such a shame they have gone now. The fastest crossing I went on was 26 minutes (the record is 22) port to port - unbelievable, if I remember correctly, top speed that day was 63 knots...that's seriously fast!

[batain]

Lol.Awesome hovercraft!I know about a hovercraft that can fly!

[lazzer408]

I always here final fantacy music when I see those things.

[doctorsimon]

I remember travelling on some of these as a little kid. Sadly, whilst they were quick (compared to the ferry) they vibrated awfully and had a sickening smell of fuel. The slightly longer ferry crossing did allow some fresh air on the deck and a little stroll. Shame they are no longer running though.

[DejaVuRocks]

that would be sweet if they made a hovercraft cruise ship!

[leafsfan1991]

wish they would just have made more up to date ones instead of making the ships to replace em, i never got a chance to go in one of them =(

[sdrfgvrfgvsfravgdsvS]

the propellers is electric or explosion?

[jamesandrew2000]

Gas turbines connected by drive shafts.

[loselegs]

this things where great used them a lot when i was yonger.powered by the same engines that where on the bristol 175 brit airliner

[libertinedave]

I used to be a cigarette runner back in the mid 90's and used to do up to 8 return trips per day on these things, earning me lots of beer tokens! Thanks

[timcc6558]

Magnificent beast! Thanks for the memories!!

[rodjames98]

nice filming of our very own monster! interesting to read some of the other comments ppl have posted and entirely agree, it is like everything else british, consigned to the archives, we are a very sad nation who really never realised its potential industrially at least.

[mayhem001boats]

Now THAT's inpresive!

ModelBoatMayhem co uk

[topline1000]

what has this country come to....they get rid of all the good old british inventions... very very sad.. whats next??? the english langauge..

[s6lad25]

Thats cool. Wish I could of gone on it!

[Pepealej]

prety cool

[newda898]

Aww, the good old days. How I loved being onboard when the pilot/captain opened the throttle and the craft suddenly went up.

[Grunts4Life]

it looks like a boat with large fans on it.

[lakedemonmariner]

max speed?

[Albion1983]

They reached more than 80 Knots (150 Km/h) in Tests. In regular services they were cleared for speeds up to 70 Knots (130 Km/h).

[pegjh]

Awesome - the largest passenger hovercraft ever made. British designed and built - so we give them the chop and ironically they were profitable!

[kevpunk]

yeah, it seems most things profitable, the british seem to get rid of it, look at concorde?

[pegjh]

I totally agree mate. Also Hoverspeed are now out of business and I thought the new Seacat would generate more profit! The loss of Concorde is unbeleiveable. once again - nothing else like it in the world (other than france), so we decommission it - rule Britania!

[kevpunk]

tell me about it, I live near Filton, where concorde was built, and it looks so sad just sat there. concorde was built for the skies, not for the ground.

[vwozone]

Superb machines - fantastic to be able to go absolutely direct, including over whatever there should be in the way, mud flats, beaches, etc. I believe if someone were to make one today, which would obviously be cheaper to run due to more modern technology, they would be greatly successful. Thanks for the video.

[Jamz98]

shame they r closed  now

[whelan]

Amazing! thanks for the video! suppose its 1 thing england has to be proud about.

[xkingADROCKx]

i wanna ride!!