Gone But Not Forgotten - The Cross Channel Hovercraft

[@christophermaer8880]

I wish this hovercraft in service again it’s such a amazing machine it should bring this back again

[@mothmagic1]

The reason is fuel inefficiency. They are very power intensive to achieve the lift.

[@danielhoffmann67]

This is by far one of the best documentations about the famous SRN4 and the Hoverspeed Cross Channel Service I've seen so far. So sad that almost all SRN4 have been scrapped. There's only one left: The Princess Anne at the Hovercraft Museum in Lee-on-the-Solent.

[@finnmeister]

As a kid, I was fortunate to go on holidays abroad which required getting across the channel via Hoverspeed and there was nothing, absolutely NOTHING, like sitting in the car on that tarmac runway waiting for one of these things to come off the horizon. When it arrived, just feet away, it was all sound and fury and scared the crap out of me. Just epic.

[@bigdmac33]

I really miss these type of presentations, where fun and enthusiasm for the subject is so evident and where you learn piles of stuff. The presenter really brings you along with him in his exploration while making the whole presentation so enjoyable. Today's equivalent, by comparison, so "fact" driven, can appear so reserved and even staid.

[@television1066]

Many thanks. Hope to post some more of these in the coming weeks. All of us on the crew always felt so very lucky to be there for these types of shoots. Loved every minute of it.

[@mrbojangles8133]

unfortunately now the orders are present this like you're dead inside

[@dfolt]

6:47 just waiting for him to spill the tea over the cabin chief's uniform. 😮 How I miss the S.R.N.4 - those hovercraft were from an era when the sky was the limit: the moon landing, Concorde, Boeing 747 and hovercraft cross-channel. It all happened around the time when I was ten. Had the opportunity to do several crossings from 1976 onwards, even in the N500 naviplane. Qualitywise, this film has been one of the best on YT. Thank you!

[@CatatonicImperfect]

haha, he looks like someone trying to pick up a reluctant girl with how close he's leaning in, all swaying back and forth, drink in his hand.

[@dukeofaaghisle7324]

My grandparents lived in Ramsgate for a few years, so we used to watch the Hoverlloyd SR.N5 & SR.N6 landing on and launching off the slipway in the town’s harbour. A few years later, we went to Pegwell Bay after it had opened as the hovercraft terminal to watch these huge SR.N4s in action. Amazing!

[@jm252]

1975.. I went on "Sure" and "Swift"..... Loved them! I was only 10 years old!

[@Bulletguy07]

By far the best cross channel trip I ever did was on the Hovercraft. Super quick crossing and no silly customs nonsense like you always got at Dover port coming off ferries. Just drive straight out from the Hovercraft terminal on to the main road. It was a sad day when we lost the option of Hovercraft crossing.

[@drips1030]

Why did they stop do you know please??

[@NeungView]

​@@drips1030Too expensive. Used way too much fuel. Also, could not compete on speed after the channel tunnel was inaugurated.

[@richardharris7214]

Good video, very instructive. I was a cadet with Shell in the mid 70s, on the bridge of a supertanker navigating very slowly down The Channel, at night, in thick fog. We all became aware, and somewhat alarmed, at a sudden crescendo of noise emanating out the fog from astern. Before we could think of what on Earth it could be this SRN4 hovercraft charged out of the fog in a great cloud of lit up spray, crossed very close behind us, and was swallowed back into the gloom as quickly as it had appeared. The Captain was not best pleased that the radar operator had failed to spot the hovercraft and warn him, but I think the rate at which the radar 'blip' was moving across the screen, compared to every other vessel, was so fast that it had been dismissed as a false return echo.

[@carlphillips3399]

I've lived in Dover all my life. God i miss these hovercrafts so much! I can still remember the smell of the jet fuel and sea spray it takes me back to my childhood. Used to do a non lander with my mum for £1!

[@mothmagic1]

I wasn't aware there were any of these still in existence. Absolutely wonderful to see.

[@idickens1]

Remember taking one when the channel was very choppy. It had to travel at half speed (so the crossing time was the same as the ferry) and quickly became a ‘vomit comet’! Stuck in your seat with folk chundering in to their brown paper bags was less than pleasant. But most of the time, it was quick, efficient and part of the holiday adventure.

[@sjp6153]

Wonderful days... me and my family used to use the hover craft service out of Ramsgate😂😂😂❤❤❤... great memories

[@machosker]

I remember my grandparents going on this there was a picture of them standing in front of it. It was sometime in the late 1980s. They brought me a model of it as a present.

[@southcalder]

Those car alarms on the deck remind me of a camping trip on Mull a few years ago. It was a foggy morning, and emerging from the mist was the serenade of car alarms as the morning ferry from Oban made its way into port. Every morning was like that.

[@Evilroco]

I remember going to France as a young boy on one of these , great experience

[@television1066]

Me too. Best part of the holiday by a country mile!

[@jimdevlin2138]

Me too😁

[@markg660]

Wow …. I used this service from Dover to Calais in 1990 when there was no work in UK so we went ‘abroad’ to France / Belgium and Holland for business. One evening it was mill pond calm and we shot across as if on afterburners. I think under 25 minutes. Nothing like it since - how did we fail as a nation not to take this forward ?

[@jamesnewman4351]

Wonderful video , thanks for this ! In 1977 i was 7 and had the honour to fly on Princess Anne just before she was stretched❤❤

[@Yappari]

In the 80s, we once sailed on our small sailboat from Calais to Dover in pea-soup fog. These hovercrafts were The Best navigation aids as their tremendous noise !! helped us moving in the right direction. Always remember, always thankful.

[@OmmerSyssel]

No sailor are capable of navigating by noise in foggy weather! Rather the exact opposite happens ... Often extremely scaring experience, while it's impossible to predict where other vessels are situated!

[@Lensman864]

I also went to France on one and I have Super-8 cine film of its arrival taken by me; my earliest film/video recording. Good luck seeing out of the windows once on the water though ... much spray!

[@petertwinn786]

Definitely the best way of crossing the channel.

[@TonySMotorcyclePassion]

really enjoyed this. . Was on the hovercraft from Dover to Calais back in the early 70,s ( a young 20,s something traveling for the first time.) From NZ .I remember quite a rough trip but loved it.

[@richcarter2294]

Just stumbled across this video. Amazed by the clarity of the film, as so many other records of the SRN4 are so amateur and grainy! I rode the Hoverspeed service back in the mid 90's and it was such an amazing experience. We actually had a really rough crossing, with the skirt of the craft coming up above the window level as we rode the waves. I recall the Captain giving several public service announcements of how the craft was well within its capacities, but for many it was a wild ride. It's an amazing piece of engineering and also at a scale that's hard to comprehend unless your stood next to or on board of it. These machines were really big. Thanks for putting this video up.

[@sydive130]

Matt Hayes, used to love his fishing programs and as for SRN4 Mountbatten class hovercraft, dad would take us to Pegwell bay when we were kids, used to blow my mind 😂

[@tylerama]

The old hoverport at Pegwell became a kart track in the early nineties. Had a lot of fun there.

[@RayGurd]

Great video, I travelled on a hoverlloyd when I was young, it was bad weather and returning to Ramsgate I remember going past the seaspeed that had got stuck on a sand bank, I think it was the year of the fastnet race disaster, due to bad weather. I have been to the hovercraft museum in Lee on solent several times I love it, the open day is amazing, last year I took family there and had a ride on the hovercraft that normally goes from Southsea to Ryde, but on the open day they do full speed 360° spins, and turn of the hover to show how it floats like a boat, high speed run up to the museum. So cool.

[@WolfiePeters]

We used it regularly, Calais to Dover, a fantastic way to cross the Channel, fast and frequent.

[@davidjefferis4467]

I used the big hovercraft regularly back in the day. Sad to see it go., but the tunnel eventually made for a simpler and quicker trip.

[@jeritilley]

Is a trip through the Channel Tunnel actually quicker than the hovercraft used to be? I seem to remember that the hovercraft was faster, Jerry

[@davidjefferis4467]

@@jeritilley Probsbly about the same total time, though as it happens I only made hcraft trips in calm weather and low tide. Bit overall the tunnel has been a better crossing.

[@garyhadaway2253]

I went on a SRN5 in 1966 from Ramsgate Harbour to Deal. I was 7 years old and thrilled to bits 👏🏻. 1969 me my Dad and Aunt went on an SRN4 from Pegwell bay to Calais. Swift and Sure the two hovercraft used by Hoverloyd. On the crossing the front skirting on the port side tore right where we were sitting and we were moved to the Starboard rear to take the weight off the damaged area. When you’re 10 it’s exciting, my Aunt was terrified 😬.

[@andreas1963ap]

In the late 80´s I had the pleasure to fly with " Princess Anne " from Calais to Dover and back again. I´m still impressed by this beauty to this day. Today I finally managed to buy the airfix modell at ebay auction. With this model I will always reminded of this spectacular experience. Thanks for this video and regards from germany.

[@nygelmiller5293]

Somewhere I have a picture from a magazine, of one of these in the harbour on dry land - with "city gents" in their "uniform" of jackets, bowler hats, and pinstriped trousers walking beside it!

[@ronnie6883]

Had two very different crossings on theses things way back. One was with the channel like a mill pond, absolutely smooth, the other was with a 30ft swell when the ferry I was on was the last one out before they deemed it too rough !

[@mandoprince1]

Never got to go on a SRN4, but did go on the much smaller SRN6 over the solent. LOud and a bit bumpy, but great fun!

[@iana6713]

What an incredible sight one of those things must've been under full power, blasting across the surface of the Channel. Fascinating video, and that cockpit tour is a study in contrasts - the almost 1940's-style controls for the pilots, and the (for the time) up to date computer-controlled radar system for the navigator. I would have loved to have seen one of these in service!

[@davidb3172]

I saw these wonderful craft from the Methane Progress and other tankers in the Channel. SRN = Saunders Roe Nautical.

[@johnzmuzic]

Went over to France with the citroen bx a couple of weeks before it stopped , amazing .

[@Warpedsmac]

...Like the Thunderbirds but in real life... phenomenal machines.

[@59patrickw]

I remember them going out of pegwell by near ramsgate and trips to the goodwin sands

[@bigal3940]

Great video, thanks for sharing x

[@briantheminer]

I went on it a couple of times whilst working on the Channel Tunnel, finish night shift, Do a “non lander” to get booze, and back to bed by 10.30. Once the wind was so bad we came through the Dover harbour entrance sideways, the captain announcing there would be no more hover service that morning

[@RichR-z6w]

I remember being on a ferry from France in 1990 and watching a hovercraft leave about 20 minutes after us, catch us and overtake in about 10 minutes, then disappear into the distance.

[@geoffreywallace9432]

I love travelling by ferry from Dover to Calais. Would have loved to travel on the hovercraft.

[@keithskelhorne3993]

I still get a hovercraft to Southsea once a week :) oh and back lol

[@tonymatthews7342]

Great memories remember Pegwell Bay Ramsgate to Calais had to return once to Calais due to skirt deflating.

[@christopherhunter2892]

I remember as a 9 year old travelling to Boulogne in 1969 on the hovercraft. As an 18 year old , 3 friends and I travelled in my Citroën DS to France on Hoverlloyd from Ramsgate. You had to time your drinking with the waves otherwise you would be soaked. The catamaran effectively replaced them.

[@richardbriansmith8562]

Awesome Video

[@television1066]

Many thanks Richard. Will post a few more with Matt in the coming weeks

[@Wichelroede]

Imagine this footage being 30 years old…

[@television1066]

About 20 years old. The scarey thing is it feels like yesterday.

[@Wichelroede]

@@television1066 Max. 25 years old. There is a BMW E46 in it.

[@nygelmiller5293]

Imagine this footage being 30 years old? How do you mean?

[@digitalduch1111]

Great video 🎉 thanks for uploading!

[@barnojackson4921]

love them!

[@kkiwi54]

I've been on them a couple of times - strange that they've gone now 🤔

[@yazoo13127]

is WONDERFULL VIDEO KISS FROM FRANCE

[@jonlord9050]

These craft should have been taken on for cross Solent travel, I’d put money on it any idea would have been stopped by the ferry companies. Such a sad loss.

[@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH]

There is one still operating in the Solent.

[@oldlordys]

Not for car transporting though, they are foot passenger only.

[@realdjoffski]

"My hovercraft is full of eels!" 😂❤

[@damienhill6383]

I've driven a full size tour coach in there, back in the 1980's, I think it could take two coaches one behind the other in the centre of the deck for balance ..

[@daciamcv1026]

I went on one of the first hovercraft which you could experience the frill of the hovercraft in the channel for 12 and six pence those were the days

[@selwynlambert1868]

Fun Fact-SRN4 "The princess Anne" is STILL the fastest "vehicle" across the Channel in 22mins.

[@L_U-K_E]

Very interesting.

[@nicholasbell9017]

I think there are one or more of these at Lee-on-Solent, the hovercraft museum. Cockpit instruments from a Sunderland!! Wow, that's 1940's stuff. I was told that the propellers were from the Bristol Britannia airliner. Anyone know what the engines were, and when was the last one retired?

[@Wichelroede]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverspeed

[@tomroland5467]

Powered by four Bristol Siddeley Proteus Gas Turbines. Bristol Siddeley were eventually purchased by Rolls Royce. From experience I can tell you they would have consumed a lot of fuel.

[@television1066]

Thanks Tom, and yes I think they did.

[@mutantthegreat7963]

Really nice...

[@Spookieham]

I travelled on them a few times. Very quick but noisy and a bit bumpy. Gone now

[@acptelford1307]

Went to France on one in the seventies. The issues were that you had to sit down for the whole trip, you couldn’t see out of the windows due to the spray. And the service was unreliable because they wouldn’t run if there was more than a light swell. They were quick, but the ferry was so much better.

[@mohdnasir5140]

The SRN4 is powered by four Bristol Siddeley 'Marine Proteus' gas turbine engines, each one driving a variable pitch propeller mounted on a pylon.

[@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH]

Do they have a seperate engine for the fan blowers or are these electrically driven?

[@maxshep2829]

​@@ANDREWLEONARDSMITHdriven from the same engine that drives the propeller

[@purpleaurorahomeandgarden]

They still run from portsmouth

[@television1066]

I've never taken the service. But it's on the list!

[@santiagoduranr]

Siempre quise ir de pequeño en los 80...😢

[@tedf1471]

Very noisy trip, like an out of control country bus! Exciting when sea is choppy, one crossing ripped its skirt but we limped on to France, miss it.

[@jonnyvloggeruk]

A modern version of this should be built with fuel efficient engines to make it more economical to run. A great machine.

[@television1066]

Wouldn't that be wondeful. I wonder if there are any engineers out there who might have some thoughts

[@johngreen6191]

Are you the angler? If so well done to you for doing something different. A bit like me. Great stuff.

[@television1066]

Thanks John, I am sadly not the angler, but the producer. Glad you enjoyed it. It was a real treat working on this with Matt and there are definitely a lot more strings to his bow than being something of a legend in the angling world.

[@johngreen6191]

@@television1066 Matt Hayes is definately a freshwater angler. He has wriiten many books, magazines and articles. Google him.

[@colinashby3775]

What year as this filmed? Thanks for the memories

[@television1066]

Hi Colin, it was from a series we filmed early 2000. It was an absolute joy to make. So glad you enjoyed it. I will try and dig out some more clips soon.

[@colinashby3775]

@@television1066 thanks. I am glad to say I went to France and back when I was at high school. I love hovercraft. My dad was the first and only person to own a hovercraft in kenya. 🇰🇪. Fell in love with them then

[@colinashby3775]

@@television1066 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGOzZaN_fd5qd7csi=N0_fyRDCKEDhq3Lt This what my dad bought to kenya. I am on the left of the screen as it comes off the water and then again a few seconds later walking around the back. Amazing I found the video

[@television1066]

Wow, that must have been a lot of fun. @@colinashby3775

[@simracer1256]

The presenter is an incredible actor.

[@johno9507]

I had no idea they were that bumpy. 🇦🇺

[@flybobbie1449]

I wonder if the 12 foot club existed.

[@delhog6161]

But what did you catch? I didn’t see any fishing tackle 🤭

[@grahamunderwood9353]

sadly gone

[@Faulty720]

Shame its gone now. Speedferries was hopefull as well but was squashed by the slow big boys of the drudgery of standard ferries

[@antoneelly9133]

If they can be able to bring this specific giant hovercraft back to service even if its four times a year where tourists and enthusiasts book early in advance just to get the experience I'm sure it would be very successful, I wish the considered

[@DavidWood2]

Realistically this will not happen. There is only one craft remaining, and it is far from being in seaworthy condition (indeed, I believe it has no engines). The hoverports have been demolished and the engineering support infrastructure no longer exists. There have not been any crew certified to operate these craft for decades. The cost of operating the ageing craft could not be justified when they had become the wrong solution for the cross-Channel route, as their vehicle capacity was limited, the number of foot passengers fell away after the ending of duty-free within the EU, and the Channel Tunnel was open. The craft were put up for sale when Hoverspeed ceased cross-Channel operations, but nobody wanted them.

[@Hammertime054]

7 tons?🤔🤔 @2.36

[@Kierenstanden-qz7eu]

Why did they stop them ?

[@television1066]

I believe it was down to a number of factors. Mainly operating and servicing costs and also competition from the channel tunnel.

[@Kierenstanden-qz7eu]

@@television1066 never got to go on one 😢

[@WolfhandsYouTube]

Great documentary of a by-gone British beast. The presenter does get rather close to people's faces when he's talking to them though lol

[@LJSW-rp6xm]

Concorde of the Seas.

[@fasthracing]

Used to drink fuel

[@SimonZimmermann82]

Gone and indeed forgotten. Like the British it used to be. Heathrow is Pakistan. So it's Birmingham and Manchester. Gone and forgotten

[@sydive130]

Imagine the look on the faces of “dingy occupants “ if they had one of these beasts bearing down on them at 50mph😂

[@EleanorPeterson]

Scary thought: Elon 'Ego' Muskrat will see this and suddenly realise that HE invented the hovercraft in a dream several years ago, and gave it to the world. He'll release an all-electric stainless-steel Teslovercraft with autopilot within 18 months, with prices starting at just $499,999.95. Probably. Perhaps. Definitely. Maybe. Allegedly.🙄

[@television1066]

😂

[@markgriffiths6638]

The worst form of transport I’ve been on, never again will I get on a hover craft. Crossing the channel in bad weather in one of these has mentally scared me never have I thrown up so much then on one of these bloody things. Passengers were queuing you at the toilets the vomit was running out of the toilet and down the aisle.

[@luiscarlosencina2697]

You studied foul it’s not you that I wand see but but what are tou looking that’s intrusting not you

[@patricksmith4424]

They made a big mistake in not configureing them as passenger only. Total waste lifting tons of cars, ships do that much better. They could have linked them in with the trains to make quick times to Europe.