The last hovercraft

On October 2000, we organized a light hovercraft meeting in Calais to say " farewell " to our big brothers.
It was the first time I appeared in a GB TV program....

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• hovercrafts
• aeroglisseurs
• channel

[officialcalummenzies]

Fly to New York on Concorde and bounce to France on a HoverCraft... two dreams from child life shattered. :'(

[Speedymartin]

@officialcalummenzies I had the same, but never succeed to fly on Concorde. And my father declined to be a Concorde pilot, and better retired.....

[paulproj]

That was in the late 70s. My Dad was on board when the last one travelled from East Cowes after the work.

Hovercraft are designed not to sink even if there is an engine failure. I used to watch the smaller ones at anchor in the Solent to prove this.

I managed a trip on the N4 on its last day - a sad day for British industry! 

[billpikeartist]

At some point in the SRN-4's history, they 'stretched' this hovercraft design by adding a 20ft-long central section, which made them heavier and thirstier to operate.

[roygbiv330]

the anchorman didnt say the english channel but the channel. they have only one channel there in england.

[Skippy585]

@JBofBrisbane

as in Government??? Hell no!!!! Take a look a AMtrak. Just a wast of money and I say either compete on your own or park'em.. I guess I'll fly South West for now.

[krbosak]

@JBofBrisbane Obviously by puncturing I don't mean putting a needle in it but hitting a log a rock.

Something that would tear a setion of the skirt. Or maybe just total electric power failure forcing it to settle on uneven water.

[JBofBrisbane]

@Skippy585 - Don't you think the U.S. has any business running passenger trains, then?

[JBofBrisbane]

@krbosak - You do know that the bottom of a hovercraft's skirt is not sealed like a rubber Zodiac, don't you? The lift fan keeps blowing air in, and the bottom edge of the skirt regulates how much gets out, allowing the air cushion to form under the main hull.