Watching this video is nothing compared to being there as this machine comes from the sea in to shore, the sight, the sound, the spray, the way it pressurises tha air you breath it markes one of those great life experiences that you never forget. Absolutely Fantastic, the state should fund the looking after one of these and keep it in working order.
We all went on the Princess Anne as a family even before she lunched. It was still unfinished but the public were allowed to see around. I'll always remember it because my gran decided to fall up the stairs while walking in the passenger lounge. Also remember the Princess Anne being launched. The locals for weeks before complained she would be too noisy when launched and when she was she hardly made a noise. Was launched from British Hovercraft Corporation in East Cowes where the concept of the hovercraft was invented. Both my grandfather and uncle worked on such historic projects there
The Space Shuttle didn’t really achieve anything outstanding from conventional rocketry but yes, the Mountbatten-class hovercraft and definitely Concorde were incredible.
Great memories...great fun....drove our VW camper aboard and off to Calais we went in 1973. Left San Francisco Bay Area...to NY....... came across from New York on the SS France to South Hampton....tutoured aroubd Britain...even out to the Oarkneys....then back south...stayed in Deal, then down to Dover to board this wonder. Then drove to Moscow....back to Italy and across to Sicily and across the Nth. Africa....down into the Sahara....back again to England .....swung aboard the QE2 and back to SF. GREAT TRIP...we were gone for over 2 years. The HOVERCRAFT was a hi-lite of our trip !
Hard to believe there were once a total of six of these giants. Two survive to this day and can be found at The Hovercraft Museum at Lee - on - Solent in Hampshire but one of them is due to be scrapped very soon.
Very impressive and jazzy, but a terrible idea from start to finish. Fuel consumption must have been outrageous, as is the case with every heavy mechanical object that must lift itself (and its mammoth payload) vertically, and keep doing so all through the "flight" time, not to count those four monstrous (and presumably very thirsty) Marine Proteus engines up their pylons. Noise was deafening, of course outside but also (so I was told by a frequent traveller in those contraptions) inside the ship. Vibration was terrible, conversations could hardly be held, and no-one but the pilots could see anything thanks to the thick spray washing the windows. And then comes what for me must have been the most huge nightmare of all: maintenance. Just look at that scandalous spray of corrosive sea water getting all over the place all of the time. Look at that enormous surface of rubber, a material which loses fast its plasticity and becomes rigid and brittle in the constant exposure to the deadly mix of sea water and sunshine impinging onto a bumper black expanse of soft material... After WWII, Britain got trapped in a self-defeating trend of extraordinary and expensive technological bravado, oblivious of anything having remotely to do with practicality. Despite the "bean counter" and "shop keeper" fame bestowed on the English, I think the opposite was the case: they were technological romantics who squandered their talent in beautiful, expensive, useless trash!
I remember these...last went on one- a ''day trip'' to Calais, and it was bumpy...thankfully I took a seasick pill, but you could see by the unpleasant stains on the nylon seats that plenty of people had chundered in the seats over the years! yuk!
I remember taking the Boeing Jetfoil From "Ostend to London" (that was "donkeys" years ago ... It was quite something going up the Thames ... (when the weather was calm) ... that didn't last long either ... and they ended up going to Ramsgate if I remember it well.
The Dover Hoverport has now been destroyed bar the propeller of a once mighty engine. Likewise in Ramsgate. The Calais Hoverport, smaller has been redeveloped into offices. The Boulogne Hoverport still exists but in a derelict state since 1984. Very sad really. You could not only see the crafts but hear them all over Dover and across the white cliffs when the wind was blowing in the right direction. Why no museum scheduled to commemorate this feat in engineering in Dover?
this was filmed just after i last returned to the UK after five years abroad, - in years prior, I used to sit and watch those over fish + chips and beers...
Yes, in good weather, it was a smooth ride, 30-35 mins to Calais. Although slightly more expensive than the ferries. But I remember travelling with my parents in the early 1980s at gale force 9 and the channel crossing was horrendous. A 1 h 20 mins roller-coaster ride. Passengers screaming in the cabin, the smell of Kerosene and vomit. Unlike the ferries, unable to get out for a breath of fresh air. Plus, you could not see outside the window, only the black skirt of the craft. Oh Joy!
Yep I went to France by Hovercraft in the 90s. However coming back it was a bit rough. What they don't tell you: that in rough seas it acts like a boat, oh dear...
Indeed,but it was mercifully fast around 32 to 40 minutes.... and you could be be being thrown around on the cross channel ferries of the time [smaller,poor stabilisers] for up to 3 hours! And the Seacats were pretty bad too! Best not to mention tge Boeing Jetfoil to Ostend - the original 'vomit comet'. Hoverllyod from Ramsgate used to take their SRN4 hovercraft over the Goodwin Sands in Mid Channel at low tides in bad weather,which was a respite from the banging and crashing for 5 - 10 minutes
Hoverspeed, usede to be part of "British Railways" ... Then it got privatised and it became "Hoverlloyd" ... and that was also the beginning of the end. That's privatization for you !
There were 4 craft, two privately owned (Hoverlloyd) and 2 publicly owned (Hoverspeed). When Hoverlloyd became unviable and closed Pegwell Bay, Swift and Sure were transferred/sold to Hoverspeed, and all 4 operated from Dover until that operation also became unviable and was closed. The introduction of faster 75 minutes Dover to Calais) capable of carrying many more cars and passengers was the final death knell. If they hadn’t closed then, the operation would certainly have had to close when Eurotunnel opened. Hoverlloyd might have lasted longer if it had been based in Dover, so that in rough weather passengers could easily be transferred to ferries, but Pegwell Bay was struggling to make a profit from day one.
+UKWMO It bloody wasn't 😂😂 We had a horrible experience on our journey Calais-Dover. Within 10 minutes of sailing it was unfortuntely to late to return and we had to go through the full gale force 😭😭😭😭 Plates dropping, glasses smashing, people being sick (eeew) It wasnt nice at all.
Trust me guys this Monster is no fun at all while theres a storm on the ocean! I travelled Calais-Dover, the journey took 1 1/2 hs as opposed to 1/2hs due a hurricane! The ocean was ever so quiet while we travelled out. 10 Minutes into the Journey we got suprised by an extreme hurricane, plates falling from shelves, people screaming and falling over! Being thrown up on on hovercraft and slashed back down with water over the entire machine is no fun AT ALL! 10 more mins and I would of thrown up! This was back in 1997, I'm sure they will have better devices nowadays to predict weather like that! I would go on one again but never at this time of the year!
The early ones were capable of over 80 knots! I remember travelling on one to France in '89 and we averaged 55knots and took 26 minutes (I timed us) from ramp to ramp. Far quicker than those shitty Aussie Incat things...40 fucking knots is all they could manage - on a good day. I'd like to see them try cutting across the Goodwin Sands! Know wonder they got rid of them.
There’s several manufacturers here in the UK, depends if you’re after small recreational Hovercraft or larger commercial Hovercraft. GriffonHoverwork is one for larger craft www.griffonhoverwork.com and hovpod is another for recreational hovpod.com/hovercraft/ but there are others if you search for them.
Watching this video is nothing compared to being there as this machine comes from the sea in to shore, the sight, the sound, the spray, the way it pressurises tha air you breath it markes one of those great life experiences that you never forget. Absolutely Fantastic, the state should fund the looking after one of these and keep it in working order.
Im glad to have experienced riding this machine back in 1986 from Dover to Calais. It was truly a ride to remember.
I miss them too. I love CIVIL hovercrafts ... i hope, they come back sometimes ...
With the move to electric vehicles these can come back and be more efficient and less noisy. Maybe!
We all went on the Princess Anne as a family even before she lunched. It was still unfinished but the public were allowed to see around. I'll always remember it because my gran decided to fall up the stairs while walking in the passenger lounge. Also remember the Princess Anne being launched. The locals for weeks before complained she would be too noisy when launched and when she was she hardly made a noise. Was launched from British Hovercraft Corporation in East Cowes where the concept of the hovercraft was invented. Both my grandfather and uncle worked on such historic projects there
The power, maneuverability - Bloody marvellous!
SRN4, Concorde, Space shuttle, seems like the space age has come and gone.
The Space Shuttle didn’t really achieve anything outstanding from conventional rocketry but yes, the Mountbatten-class hovercraft and definitely Concorde were incredible.
Great memories...great fun....drove our VW camper aboard and off to Calais we went in 1973. Left San Francisco Bay Area...to NY....... came across from New York on the SS France to South Hampton....tutoured aroubd Britain...even out to the Oarkneys....then back south...stayed in Deal, then down to Dover to board this wonder. Then drove to Moscow....back to Italy and across to Sicily and across the Nth. Africa....down into the Sahara....back again to England .....swung aboard the QE2 and back to SF. GREAT TRIP...we were gone for over 2 years. The HOVERCRAFT was a hi-lite of our trip !
That’s an amazing trip
Amazing what a trip to the store to get milk and bread can turn into.
Shame it had to go. It was always a great flight and awesome to see it come ashore. Nostalgia..........
go
fantastic time, I cross the channel in may 1990, beautifull machine,, fernando from brazil
ruclips.net/video/_vnuS5Y35eY/видео.html the new ones
This and Concorde are the two best machines ever made.
DTW-TheWanderingMuzungu you’re forgetting about the vibrator.
Lucien Skye 🤣🤣
Hard to believe there were once a total of six of these giants. Two survive to this day and can be found at The Hovercraft Museum at Lee - on - Solent in Hampshire but one of them is due to be scrapped very soon.
Purely amazing. So fantastic. Love you hovercraft. Saw you as a child. I am 55 now. Loved the hover port xxxxxx
Very impressive and jazzy, but a terrible idea from start to finish. Fuel consumption must have been outrageous, as is the case with every heavy mechanical object that must lift itself (and its mammoth payload) vertically, and keep doing so all through the "flight" time, not to count those four monstrous (and presumably very thirsty) Marine Proteus engines up their pylons. Noise was deafening, of course outside but also (so I was told by a frequent traveller in those contraptions) inside the ship. Vibration was terrible, conversations could hardly be held, and no-one but the pilots could see anything thanks to the thick spray washing the windows. And then comes what for me must have been the most huge nightmare of all: maintenance. Just look at that scandalous spray of corrosive sea water getting all over the place all of the time. Look at that enormous surface of rubber, a material which loses fast its plasticity and becomes rigid and brittle in the constant exposure to the deadly mix of sea water and sunshine impinging onto a bumper black expanse of soft material... After WWII, Britain got trapped in a self-defeating trend of extraordinary and expensive technological bravado, oblivious of anything having remotely to do with practicality. Despite the "bean counter" and "shop keeper" fame bestowed on the English, I think the opposite was the case: they were technological romantics who squandered their talent in beautiful, expensive, useless trash!
I went to France by Hovercraft in the 90s.
However coming back it was a bit rough.
What they don't tell you: that in rough seas it acts like a boat!
The SRN4's were amazing machines, and so much fun to fly. So too was Concorde - both so missed.
Marvellous memories. Liked and subscribed!
One of the best videos online showing the SRN4s in action, thanks for sharing.....
I have very fond memories of the Hovercraft at Dover
I remember these...last went on one- a ''day trip'' to Calais, and it was bumpy...thankfully I took a seasick pill, but you could see by the unpleasant stains on the nylon seats that plenty of people had chundered in the seats over the years! yuk!
Worked on these at British Hovercraft back on the 80's.
Great to see them again.
Thanks for sharing.
Yea have a look ruclips.net/video/_vnuS5Y35eY/видео.html
You have to go to Portsmouth now to go on one, southsea to the Isle of Wight,
Wow amazing keep it up
Definitely one of the best srn4 vids on RUclips!
Excellent. Miss 'em!
We used to get this to go and visit my family in France 🇫🇷
Great shots, nice one, ah, memories.
I remember taking the Boeing Jetfoil From "Ostend to London" (that was "donkeys" years ago ... It was quite something going up the Thames ... (when the weather was calm) ... that didn't last long either ... and they ended up going to Ramsgate if I remember it well.
Impressive! What a machine.
I only managed to see them a few time, I enjoyed the coming and going.
my dad used to work on the hovers back in the 90s i still have his hoverspeed badge :)
Amazing old contraption, very much of its time, went on it in the late eighties, quite an experience
The Dover Hoverport has now been destroyed bar the propeller of a once mighty engine. Likewise in Ramsgate. The Calais Hoverport, smaller has been redeveloped into offices. The Boulogne Hoverport still exists but in a derelict state since 1984. Very sad really. You could not only see the crafts but hear them all over Dover and across the white cliffs when the wind was blowing in the right direction. Why no museum scheduled to commemorate this feat in engineering in Dover?
The best and fastest way of crossing the channel by far [as long as it was not too rough!]
Hovercrafts are popular. They have many loud fans.
this was filmed just after i last returned to the UK after five years abroad, - in years prior, I used to sit and watch those over fish + chips and beers...
I so miss this 😢
Bye bye Concorde, bye bye Hoverspeed. This country has no shame.
Very interesting to see
Japao...🌞..
Isto é Magia.
🍺💚🌼...BRASIL..
Yes one of these in every American garage by the year 2025
I've never seen one of these before. Of course, I live here in Nebraska, so that might explain why.
Yes, but quite bumpy rides though !
Yes, in good weather, it was a smooth ride, 30-35 mins to Calais. Although slightly more expensive than the ferries. But I remember travelling with my parents in the early 1980s at gale force 9 and the channel crossing was horrendous. A 1 h 20 mins roller-coaster ride. Passengers screaming in the cabin, the smell of Kerosene and vomit. Unlike the ferries, unable to get out for a breath of fresh air. Plus, you could not see outside the window, only the black skirt of the craft. Oh Joy!
Yep I went to France by Hovercraft in the 90s.
However coming back it was a bit rough.
What they don't tell you: that in rough seas it acts like a boat, oh dear...
Indeed,but it was mercifully fast around 32 to 40 minutes.... and you could be be being thrown around on the cross channel ferries of the time [smaller,poor stabilisers] for up to 3 hours! And the Seacats were pretty bad too! Best not to mention tge Boeing Jetfoil to Ostend - the original 'vomit comet'. Hoverllyod from Ramsgate used to take their SRN4 hovercraft over the Goodwin Sands in Mid Channel at low tides in bad weather,which was a respite from the banging and crashing for 5 - 10 minutes
Hoverspeed, usede to be part of "British Railways" ... Then it got privatised and it became "Hoverlloyd" ... and that was also the beginning of the end. That's privatization for you !
There were 4 craft, two privately owned (Hoverlloyd) and 2 publicly owned (Hoverspeed). When Hoverlloyd became unviable and closed Pegwell Bay, Swift and Sure were transferred/sold to Hoverspeed, and all 4 operated from Dover until that operation also became unviable and was closed. The introduction of faster 75 minutes Dover to Calais) capable of carrying many more cars and passengers was the final death knell. If they hadn’t closed then, the operation would certainly have had to close when Eurotunnel opened. Hoverlloyd might have lasted longer if it had been based in Dover, so that in rough weather passengers could easily be transferred to ferries, but Pegwell Bay was struggling to make a profit from day one.
Still a shame they don't use them anymore on the Calais-Dover route :( Would like to travel on one when the sea is not so angry xD
Was even more fun when the sea was angry lol
+UKWMO It bloody wasn't 😂😂 We had a horrible experience on our journey Calais-Dover. Within 10 minutes of sailing it was unfortuntely to late to return and we had to go through the full gale force 😭😭😭😭 Plates dropping, glasses smashing, people being sick (eeew) It wasnt nice at all.
5:39 cant stop!!!!!
only princess anne left now
how much would i pay to cross the channel on one of them again
this is now at the hovercraft musuem in gosport
Trust me guys this Monster is no fun at all while theres a storm on the ocean! I travelled Calais-Dover, the journey took 1 1/2 hs as opposed to 1/2hs due a hurricane! The ocean was ever so quiet while we travelled out. 10 Minutes into the Journey we got suprised by an extreme hurricane, plates falling from shelves, people screaming and falling over! Being thrown up on on hovercraft and slashed back down with water over the entire machine is no fun AT ALL! 10 more mins and I would of thrown up! This was back in 1997, I'm sure they will have better devices nowadays to predict weather like that! I would go on one again but never at this time of the year!
Ai sim
The early ones were capable of over 80 knots! I remember travelling on one to France in '89 and we averaged 55knots and took 26 minutes (I timed us) from ramp to ramp. Far quicker than those shitty Aussie Incat things...40 fucking knots is all they could manage - on a good day. I'd like to see them try cutting across the Goodwin Sands! Know wonder they got rid of them.
Sea Concorde
Who is the manufacturer of hover crafts in U.K. are they still manufactured? any one has contacts?
There’s several manufacturers here in the UK, depends if you’re after small recreational Hovercraft or larger commercial Hovercraft. GriffonHoverwork is one for larger craft www.griffonhoverwork.com and hovpod is another for recreational hovpod.com/hovercraft/ but there are others if you search for them.
@999dalek "The zenith of British innovation."? I should hope not. There are several centuries left to go ...
OK, who came here from "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown?"
why don't they turn of their radar?
Not good for people's health