What Happened To Giant Hovercraft?

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When the first hovercraft debuted in the summer 1959, it stunned the world as it appeared to almost magically float over any surface. It was a new kind of machine that could travel almost anywhere, on land, water, or just about any other surface.

The first prototype hovercraft, designed by British engineer Christopher Cockerell, was a mere demonstrator for the technology, but in just a few short years hovercraft would go from being a curiosity to promising to herald in a new transport revolution. Britain, the United States, and France poured millions into hovercraft development, both for civilian and military purposes.

The British would quickly emerge as leaders in hovercraft development and adoption. Small scale hovercraft transport services began popping up throughout the country only two years after the hovercraft first made its debut.

The pinnacle of British hovercraft design was the enormous SR.N4. The largest version was capable of transporting sixty cars and as many passengers as a Boeing 747 jumbo jet at speeds of up to 130 km/hr. By the end of the 1970s, these iconic hovercraft carried nearly a third of all passenger traffic on the English Channel, playing an important role in connecting Britain to Continental Europe.

But 50 years after they were introduced, giant hovercraft have all but disappeared. The transport revolution that was once promised, never arrived.

Music used in this production (reproduced under license):

Intro Song: ‘Jet Set’- https://www.apmmusic.com/albums/KPM_KPMK_1111~2

Song 1: ‘Retro Synthwave and 80s Miami Trailer’ – https://audiojungle.net/item/synthwave/24557551

Song 2: ‘Background Сinematic Documentary’ – https://audiojungle.net/item/the-documentary/36380272

Song 3:: ‘Jet Set’ – https://www.apmmusic.com/albums/KPM_KPMK_1111~2

Song 4: ‘Atmospheric Synthiepop – Spaceman’ – https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/42796603-atmospheric-synthiepop-spaceman-optimistic-background-theme

Song 6: ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH4DIzW6uXc

Song 7: ‘Desert Dew’ – https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/DiJXy2D4S1/

Song 8: ‘Feel the Heat’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySYKe6NIU9E

Song 9: ‘Feel the Heat’ – https://audiojungle.net/item/synthwave/20839996

Thanks for watching!

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49 thoughts on “What Happened To Giant Hovercraft?”

  4. My first ride was accidental. We had booked for a catamaran crossing from Dover to Dunkirque; but there was a maintenance issue. We were offered the hovercraft to Calais as an alternative and boarded directly. In next to no time we were in France. It was an exhilarating experience and I greatly regret their passing.

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  5. Ha ha ha! This takes me back! My dad used to love hovercraft, we used to make them out of bits and pieces around the house, he got me a radio controlled hovercraft and we even went on that huge hovercraft to Calais! I had a window seat and it was very dark and foggy outside. Thanks for that bit of nostalgia!

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  7. Mister Mustard, some kudos for you – your videos are a 10 out of 10. Your voice work is excellent, you seem to be a natural for voicing documentary-style videos – you have good pitch, intonation, and diction, while maintaining an easy, confident manner. The graphics and 3-D models are superb, your choice of music is great, the editing is excellent.

    You've 100% found your niche. Well done.

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  8. Thank you for at very nice and very informative article about these very interesting crafts.
    But what happened to the giant SR.N4 Hovercrafts? Were they chopped up and possibly where? Were they exhibited at a museum and possibly where? What happened to them? Does anyone know where thy ended up?

    Reply

  9. I remember seeing a hovercraft depicted in the Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown special when I was a kid and being immediately curious about what that weird looking thing was. Still fascinated by them today.

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  11. Just found this channel, it's so interesting! It'd be so awesome if you made a video on Boeing Hydrofoils. Those were crazy looking and I always wondered why they never really took off.

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  14. I'm actually a bit upset. I payed for curiosity stream using your code, thinking I would get Nebula and your content, but you have to get the premium upgrade that your discount doesn't cover. That was the only reason why I did it. I guess I should have paid closer attention but still

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  15. "USA tourists used to ask some crazy questions and often asked where the wheels were and how they ran along the bottom of the ocean"

    Yeah, we're a bunch of total dummies.

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  17. They'd be no good today on the English Channel, those little orange boats full of smuggled people fleeing the dangers of France would be blown all over the place like confetti in the wind….

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  22. I was fortunate enough to travel on a hovercraft as a child in the early 90's I can't remember much about the experience, except for the sound. It was really quite unusual, like 100 helicopters taking off at once close by. Watching this makes me sad I wasn't a little older, as it's not something I'll get to do again. Just never realised it at the time.

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  27. There is an amazing collection of hovercraft at the Hovercraft Museum at HMS Daedalus near Portsmouth, and I visited with my son just over a decade ago. We were the only people there (you actually have to phone in advance to get them to let you in). We saw some really interesting vehicles including some that were used in Bond movies, one that used to belong to the Queen, and I have a photo of my son sitting in the cockpit of an SR.N4! Very interesting place, and well worth a visit if you can arrange it.

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  31. Just in case anyone is interested, I have a simple to implement & significatly less costly non-maglev design to achieve the same speeds, reliability & safety (if not better)….

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  35. I always liked the Green coloured Matchbox Battle king's ! Hovercraft ! And Wondered ! If this was used , in Ww Two ! How it would have been on the Normandy ! Landings ! Amoung Marines !

    Reply

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