What was invented by Christopher Cockerell?

I was privileged to work onboard both the Princess Anne and Princess Margaret hovercrafts that operated between Dover and Calais. They are iconic craft built on a raft system and operated by Rolls Royce engines. On a calm day (with a crossing time of around 25 minutes) they literally hovered within a millimetre or so hence the crossing was called a ‘flight’. Unfortunately with the soaring cost of aviation fuel, the company ceased to operate from 2003.

I live on the Isle of Wight and we have the only Hovercraft passenger ferry in the world

learn something new every day

I think they would be very useful in times of flooding to transport animals and people to safer ground.

Taranchalanche, Fast but not so good in rough seas. Many channel crossings to Guernsey cancelled. Loved the ride though

Taranchalanche, also, Marines use amphibious hovercraft from ships like the USS Boxer for rapid deployment ground assault.

It would be a great troop delivery carrier.

OpalScorpio51942, it's not the quietest boat in the world though 😉

Built in Folkestone Kent and I have been to the location many times

Iconic and built near where I live now. Portsmouth U.K.

Player #27149342 pixie, I love that idea of saving people in flooded areas. That would be extremely useful.

Taranchalanche, they were very fast

Player #5621402, saw one in July of 1969 while I was on the ferryboat from Calais to Dover coming on the opposite direction and it was really amazing seeing it passing by

Player #5621402, on vacation we were booked on the hovercraft but seas were too rough. took 6 hours by ferry

Mr Wolf, I've been on that ferry, back in the 70's, as well as the hydroplane to IoW. I was thrilled to experience them. I can't recall seeing either here in the states.

Morpheus is grateful for this to get to Zion ...

In Somerleyton, Suffolk.

but was it full of eels?

TheSocialMisanthrope, %g

Very cool, what advantages over a regular boat? Speed is mentioned. Hmm maybe.