Flying On The World's Only Passenger Hovercraft Service!

[@MickSanderson]

Noel and Sam's enthusiasm for this trip more than makes up for Rach's apathy about crossing The Solent on a hovercraft!!!!!

[@huwlewis9059]

Rach was probably thinking about all of Noel’s exotic travels and all she got was a spin in a hovercraft!

[@MrPickledede]

@@davidwolfhudson My baby don't care

[@WaterWorld1]

I don't wish to sound sexist, but women do not always understand machines. I can't think of a more exciting water vessel!

[@Maisygirl1974]

@@WaterWorld1- Yep. That’s right. We women are completely incapable of understanding technology and machinery. 🙄

[@andrewcubbage1007]

As a resident of the Isle of Wight I hope you enjoyed your visit, it is a beautiful place to live or to visit. Clarifying something you said, the longest ferry crossing takes one hour, other routes take between 20 and 40 minutes. The hovercraft is the fastest at only 10 minutes

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

I did think 3 hours vice 10 minutes was a bit bizarre.

[@protector22222]

he may be accounting for travel time in total.. .getting on the ferry off the ferry to and from the ferry etcc... maybe i dont know... im tryin here lol

[@Highervibesofficial]

so im i ahah

[@AtoZbyLocalBus]

I had to laugh when he said 3 hours for the ferry to Isle Of Wright. It takes the Holyhead to Dublin Car Ferry 3 hours and 15 minutes, and it is a longer distance then ferry to the Isle Of Wright. Also I think Neol and maybe his family, could somemore ferry travel videos, like taking the ferry over to Ireland.

[@enthusiastisch1922]

Can you travel over with a concessionary pass? Must be hard for autistic people to pay if they do.

[@harveyfisher23]

As someone who watches your content a lot, it's so refreshing to see you come to explore something so local to me (I live 5 miles away). Keep up the good work Noel, always enjoying the videos!

[@andyK1878]

I loved the very technical description at 1:45, “we’re now waiting for the floaty hovercraft thing to arrive.” 😂

[@noelphilips]

Wow, thank you!

[@TheNikolaiwolf]

Its so nice to see Noel as a silly dad with his kids, Solo travel can be rough being away from family.

[@charlesjay8818]

hahaha he's probably traveling to get AWAY from them, especially his miserable wife

[@atherrien95]

@@charlesjay8818 What'd she do?

[@mountcliff_valleybay]

@@charlesjay8818 Hope this comment was in cheek. He's staying with them so it can't be that bad!

[@jasonmayfield9959]

I love Sam's enthusiasm and ability to recite the safety demo! Very disappointed your hovercraft was not, however, full of eels

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

I saw his nipples explode with delight, though. 😉

[@sebsaviationyyc]

A légpárnás hajóm tele van angolnákkal Surprised not too many people get the reference!

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

Drop your panties, @@sebsaviationyyc , I cannot wait until lunchtime. 😂

[@jasonmayfield9959]

@@sebsaviationyyc I would like to file a complaint, about this hovercraft, which I have purchased from this very shop not half an hour ago!

[@sebsaviationyyc]

@@jasonmayfield9959 And I would like to file a complaint about this inaccurate phrase book...

[@alix5704]

It is heartwarming to see such a loving father/son relationship. And now I want to ride that hovercraft too, lol.

[@noelphilips]

Thank you so much for your kind words.

[@sheri1972]

No doubt your kids are going to have so many wonderful memories from their childhood with all the adventures you take them on.

[@shonen84]

Lovely to see you and your family having a fun day out, Noel!

[@noelphilips]

Thank you!

[@KiranMachiraju]

A flying boat which travels at 80 km/hour? Thank you for the treat Noel. Long live this Hover Craft! 💐

[@bruceoldham1896]

Wonderful to see all the family on an adventure!

[@kawangkwok5262]

As a foreigner, I had been only time to Isle of Wright in 1992, had been forgotten what transport I traveled. it is really nice to introduce to non- UK resident that some unique transport from UK. Thanks Noel.

[@ancupola1994]

Thank you! I remember as a child visiting the UK and then going via Hovercraft over to France and then back to Italy. The hovercraft was a great form of transoprt thank you for sharing your experience!

[@noelphilips]

So cool! Thanks for watching.

[@gingerNinja688]

@@noelphilips you should of played the song welcome to the Isle of Wight by derek sandy! The Isle of Wight anthem haha!!!

[@StevePetrica]

I took a hovercraft from Cairns, Australia, to the Great Barrier Reef. About 45 minutes, as I recall. It was fast, but a rough ride. Some passengers "lost their lunch."

[@PaulEaston2008]

Loved it! I've done that route a few times in the past on the old SRN6 hovercraft - and also, back in the mid-70s, from Dover to Calais on the SRN4 car ferry. The best bit of that trip was that I was making a travel programme for a radio station and got the chance to visit the flight deck - accessible by a metal ladder from the car deck.

[@joshhayes5218]

Hi Noel My names Josh Hayes and I’ve worked for Hovertravel since August 2017 started as an apprentice and love it I’m a cashier based in the Ryde Terminal

[@johncc16]

Great little day trip in the good weather. I was raised on the Isle of Wight and we quite often took the Hovercraft over to Southsea on a day trip,for clothes shopping etc! In those days the Hovercraft(SRN6 until the early 1980's), was much more like an aircraft than a cross with a boat. The propeller was driven by a Rolls Royce Gnome Turbo Engine(with variable -pitch propellers) and the smell of aviation fuel was very evident as you boarded and got off. The Pilot sat at the front of the cabin and you could see him piloting with his control stick and rudder pedals. Most I can remember had an RAF-type moustache, so were probably ex-RAF pilots! Today's Hovertravel Hovercraft has 2 MAN diesel engines running the two propellers.

[@falling043]

When I was very young I once went on a hovercraft just like this over the channel from Calais to Dover but I only remember flashes of it. This brought back good memories so thanks for posting!

[@timgee999]

Lovely, I remember going on the hovercraft in Portsmouth when I was a kid about 40 years ago with my parents. Brought back great memories.

[@lisylou247]

Welcome to the Island. Hope you enjoyed your visit. Very lucky to live here

[@loompaoompa2627]

Watched a documentary on these once. England used to have massive versions of these that held cars and hundreds of passengers. Due to pricing issues and maintenance there all discontinued service sadly.

[@richardtalbot8769]

When the duty free market disappeared and the cost of the aviation gasolene rose the cost of the operating the craft outweighed their benefit. They also couldn't operate in all weathers and sometimes if you were booked on the hovercraft you would find yourself on ferry as it was too rough to operate - it could be quite a rough ride but at only 40 mins was quick.

[@neilpalmer230]

It was the Channel Tunnel that did them in. You can still see (and go aboard) one of those large (held over 400 passengers and 60 cars) SR.N4 hovercraft, The Princess Anne, at the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-the-Solent.

[@JISJ1964]

I loved it when you could travel by Hovercraft from Dover Western Docks to Boulogne and Calais and even get 50% off on your ticket as an Interrail Holder. They had a cold drinks service onboard. Had I gone to The Isle of Wight I would have taken the train instead, buses are everywhere but The Island Line is rather unique. BTW it´s the eternal question if Geoff and Vicky ever came to the Isle.

[@lloydstrips7586]

Geoff and Vicky have been to the IOW as part of all the stations, I think Geoff has been back since aswell

[@McGubbins42]

Ah but did you prefer Hoverlloyd or Seaspeed?

[@JISJ1964]

@@lloydstrips7586 I know but it´s been a sport to put that to question, it was made a question already in "All the stations" as it was a mainline aside from the connected net if they ever made it.

[@JISJ1964]

@@McGubbins42 Honestly, I just made the trip once and struggled to be able to do it as already then I knew that the high speed connections would disappear with the tunnel.

[@CallieMasters5000]

The IoW is why Geoff and Vicki broke up. Marek Larwood had a whole series on the Mysterious Isle.

[@greyjay9202]

Its the Noel and Sam show. Love it. Sam is a great presenter.

[@Larn83]

Love you Rach. You don’t sugar coat things you say exactly how your feeling. Sam you’ll be taking your dads job soon ❤😂

[@trishcook1857]

I loved the hovercraft, not keen on boats, so the speed was good for me. Also was surprised how it felt like a plane onboard. Thanks guys

[@lisaarthurton]

I remember going on this as a child. Now 58 and living in Aus, I enjoy your trips and experiences. It's like going down memory lane. I was lucky enough to work for BA and the Concorde Fleet. X

[@stevenmccolm1531]

Brings back memories of a school trip to the Isle of Wight. We took the hovercraft. There used to be a hovercraft service from Dover to France but that stopped when the channel tunnel was opened, that service carried cars and passengers. Great video.

[@noelphilips]

Thanks for sharing!

[@cohara7516]

I love how this is still not Noel's shortest flight.

[@paulwheeler4283]

Sam is such a lovely kid both of you're kids are of course but please make more videos with him his got such a sweet playful personality he makes the video even more special and enjoyable

[@212MPH]

I remember the old SRN4s running from Dover to Calias. Fantastic old machines.

[@BeBoyRocker2]

I traveled on this hovercraft recently and what a treat it was! It was such a smooth ride to the Isle of Wight.

[@upstate23]

This was so cool, you need to do more with your kids, you and Sam looked like you had so much fun

[@sazzieb1]

I've been travelling on the Hovercraft for years. Started holidaying as a child on the island ( I'm 59) & always had a hovercraft ride. Recently we have been doing an annual day trip to the island. 2 hours Essex - Portsmouth then the 10 min crossing & spend the day on the island. If anyone is interested there is a hovercraft museum at Lee on Solent where volunteers are restoring The Princess Anne cross channel hovercraft..... it's huge!

[@Alfred289]

Feels strange having seen you jet set all over the world to now see you in the city of my Birth! Excellent video, thank you!

[@noelphilips]

Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed it.

[@MaulinAgrawal1217]

My auntie lives on the Isle of Wight and it’s always a joy to visit her, you brought back a lot of happy memories.

[@noelphilips]

That's awesome!

[@gmf121266]

I Went on the SRN6 from Southsea in 1972 when I was 6. Glad to see they are still running the service.

[@laurensvanesveld1354]

Cool to show us this together with your family. Well done.

[@noelphilips]

Thanks for watching!

[@kenallen9163]

Brings back memories of taking the hovercraft back in 1966 , lots of fun

[@grievousangel7742]

First, love the t-shirt! I'm an old lady and actually remember these when l was a kid. Big loss when they went out of service. Good to know one is hanging on.

[@soxmilligex7671]

Have flown across 100's of times. It's fast, reliable and reasonably priced considering it's convenience. Highly recommended. Nice one Noel!

[@joshualau4070]

Sam - (Taps camera) Noel - Don't so that, some people say that's rude..... Sam - But you do it all the time! Me - I thought that's how you turn the thing off.....

[@CallieMasters5000]

I used to take these hovercrafts often across the English Channel and it was like riding the worst roller coaster ever. People throwing up and slamming down on every wave, it was terrible but faster than the ferry.

[@TR1L.16]

Awesome,Sam is definitely the new Noel. Great video 👍👍

[@steveb1972]

When I was a lad in the late 70’s my Grandad used to take me to the Isle of Wight on the hovercraft just for the trip, when we were visiting his brother in Portsmouth. Happy memories 😊

[@noelphilips]

Very cool!

[@petermolyneux9544]

Hovercraft are great in calm weather. I remember coming back from France on one in a choppy sea. I'm not usually travel sick, but felt pretty green on that occasion.

[@nomorehierros]

Me too, it’s a unique motion not like a ship.

[@Purely-Flight]

Loved Sam’s safely briefing👌

[@MrChallen91]

Me and my family were on the hovercraft with you that day. Centre section and one row forward of you. My son is so excited he is in the back of your video. He was too star struck to say hello 👋🏻

[@noelphilips]

Awesome, I hope he had a great trip!

[@Nasedbyme]

My school used to go on this to fixtures from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight schools

[@flbrit59]

Good to see you in my hometown, Noel ! It never gets old watching the hovercraft come in and out at Southsea !

[@gflo2781]

Sam's hilarious, definitely a future travel vlogger in the making!

[@BrokenBackMountains]

I was on the Dover to Calais hovercraft when I was a kid. Coming back was during a storm. The hovercraft was going up and down between the waves and the sick bags were in use. My wee sister and I loved it. My mum hated it :)

[@lkorn9150]

Hahaha Noah is having such a dad moment in this video. I love it!

[@heatherydew3361]

Sam is such a chip off the old block, Noel!! This was so exciting I now want to give it a go, I've only ever been by ferry to the IOW. I also had no idea it was the only passenger hovercraft in the world, how amazing!!

[@jimmyska4]

Love the family videos. You and Rach have and are doing a grand job as parents x

[@noelphilips]

Thank you so much!

[@VickiPopham]

Brilliant vlog! Used to get the hovercraft from Dover over to Calais when I was little. Very noisy but fast (around 40/45 mins while the ferry could take around a couple of hours) and lots of fun. Was gutted when it stopped so it's great to see that this service is still going Xx

[@julesthompson8832]

I remember taking this too- they would strap all the vehicles down!

[@notdavea5778]

It used to be my choice travelling to Europe but was less appealing in rough weather. A bit like riding a skimming stone

[@eringreen2000]

This video is hilarious 🤣🤣 No seat belts No loo review No meal service No oxygen No business class Keep these funny videos coming Nial & your children definitely take over you possibly future vloggers? 💕

[@seven_hundred-seven_hundred]

Very nice. Thank you. (Nice to see the family on holiday...)

[@estiefranks6468]

Enjoyed the journey. Kudos to Sam for commentary and wondering about the loo review

[@sissysyme1334]

Your son is adorable and looks just like you!! 😊

[@DanUnplanned]

Awesome video Noel! You make me wanna achieve my dreams of hitting 1k subs this year! Just gonna make it happen man! So exited to see your content from Texas when you move man! Keep up the great content

[@jontownsend8090]

I can remember riding the Hovercraft many years ago when there was a service to Calais from Dover, and correct me if I'm wrong, it traveled at 60mph. This vlog takes me back, thanks once again for great content

[@GabroPlayz]

Glad you visited my home island! Also I must say the Hovercraft, even though it's loud, is just amazing! It sometimes feels like you're going on a bumpy road through a desert, depending on the weather and the waves of course.

[@petermilburn5425]

Cute Vlog with your wife & kids. Love it!!!

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@maritabrammer348]

i love the way you interact with Sam! CUTE reminds of my dad when going home to Devon 'scream when you see the see' Its all memories

[@kdp8133]

A group of us took the hovercraft from Dover to Calais on the way to see Queen play three nights in Paris in 1979. It was the Princess Ann and my word - it was noisy! I believe it's still around somewhere, obviously not in operation.

[@aggythornton]

This is amazing. I went on this with my mum and gran when we were on holiday to The Isle Of Wight. We spent the day in Portsmouth before heading back to Ryde. Great trip ❤️

[@scruff520]

Great video Noel, your son Sam has really found his voice on your videos another youtuber in the making x

[@paulclarke8184]

I crossed the English Channel on one of the massive hovercrafts in the late 80's - was about 5x the size of that? Great "flight", and they were made on the IoW I believe?

[@tonyroberts4807]

I always wanted to go on one of those. I did take the catamaran which was cool in it's own right.

[@jaredmehrlich6683]

Oh the 1980s were great.

[@Theaeroplaneguy]

Sadly those hovercraft were withdrawn in the early 2000s, but you can still visit one at the hovercraft museum at lee on solent.

[@chrisbrown8748]

I love when the whole family travels together ❤️

[@blazep8102]

I absolutely love these hovercrafts - I spent a whole day just to travel on them and to visit the hovercraft museum which is another gem - so gutted I wasn't alive to see the Mountbatten Class around I wish there were only more of these lovely contraptions about gliding the seas Nice surprise to see your video on them and glad you enjoyed it just as much also!

[@ChokyoDK]

Hovercraft Captain/Pilot must be a cool title to have

[@janettesinclair6279]

Many moons ago I made a hovercraft crossing from UK (Dover?) to France. All I can remember is that it was very busy and noisy, but I have ticked it off my bucket list! Your son is so funny "What about the Loo Review, Dad?" Ha ha.

[@Youngthunder7]

So cool! Would love to visit the Isle of Wight and take a ride on one of these if I ever go to Britain, thanks for sharing your trip with us Noel! I love your videos!

[@noelphilips]

Thanks for watching!

[@renardfranse]

Reminds me of THE CAT when it was running between Nova Scotia and Maine and Mass. God how I miss that! I was on it three times and it was FANTASTIC! Anyone else remember the CAT?

[@daveoaktowers]

Lived in Portsmouth most my life and you nearly always stop and watch it depart/arrive as its such a spectacular sight. It's also quite a ride when the sea is quite choppy! 😂

[@jamiehalvorsen4004]

I live on the Isle of Wight, Used to take the hovercraft every day to college, amazing piece of tech.

[@jeanieK13]

Looks fun , love this as it’s a slightly different video from you ( not complaining about your usual content) and nice to see the family and co vlogger Sam , who I’m certain will have his own channel in time .

[@paulsims9155]

6 foot is high. You can break an ankle. 😆 Love to see the family get away. ❤️

[@jamessharland]

It definitely doesn’t take 3 hours to get the ferry to the IOW Noel. The red funnel only takes an hour from Southampton and it’s further away from Cowes than Skateville is from Ryde

[@seany84uk]

The confidence of Sam on camera is brilliant! :)

[@nomorehierros]

Remember crossing the Channel on Hoverspeed - Noisy, couldn’t see a thing for the spray…but it was exciting and definitely a memorable experience.

[@alanlake5220]

The tide at Ryde, goes out 1/2 a mile , but the Hovercraft is not affected by that .

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

It's such a same that they have largely disappeared from use. I remember getting one to go from Dover to Calais - and it only took 35 minutes each way. Just a great way to travel.

[@noelht1]

Nothing in the world like doing something geeky, with your geek child who is even more of a geek than you are. I absolutely loved doing this stuff with my daughter when she was younger. She just turned 26 the other day. And now we do mega geeky stuff in different parts of the world.

[@declanmark2809]

Born and raised in Portsmouth, not only was this epic to see you here but I honestly had no idea this was the only one operating!

[@arokh72]

I'm old enough to remember the days when the large hovercraft used to cross the channel. Sadly, being in Australia, and quite young, I was only able to enjoy it on TV with documentaries, and still images from encyclopaedias, etc. Glad there is still at least one service still around.

[@helenpeck1954]

Ah my home town. As a kid used to love staying watching the hover go out and getting covered in sea spray. I have only been on the hover once on a return journey, I didn't have a good experience the weather was really rough, we struggled to get into Southsea and it put me off for life. Though still all these later I still love watching the hover x

[@willettsworld1481]

Remember travelling on the huge cross-channel hovercraft between Dover and Calais (see they stopped the service in 2000 so it was a while ago now!). Great fun, speedy and er noisy!

[@lastnamefirstname520]

Always been my fav travel blogger, now I found this video too, position just got strengthened

[@nancycowell-miller4321]

Is Sam ready to become a Hovercraft Vlogger?! What a fun adventure! 👍

[@discomonkey3492]

Used to travel across the channel frequently in one of these back in the 90s. Loved it, then the route was cancelled.

[@beckyhale8240]

We just come back from a week in the Isle of Wight, and we did the hovercraft, it was brilliant, it does feel like you are flying. Love the IOW we didn't want to leave.

[@nikkimansell2760]

I remember a day trip to France as a child by hovercraft - I’m not a fan of ferry travel so was excited by this but the sea was rough that day and it felt like we were being slammed on concrete as we coasted over the waves 🤢😵‍💫. Was a trip to remember, that’s for sure…!!!

[@flym0]

From a person who was more used to using the transport shown @ 00:36 🙂, I saw these hovercraft on many occasions but never used them. Thank you for showing the experience. Oh and something missing from the report is the cost per mile. A single ticket works out at £4.30 per mile #MostExpensiveStretchOfWaterInTheWorld.

[@RushfanUK]

As a kid back in the late 60's and early 70's we used to come down from Northumberland to see my Grandmother who lived at Sarisbury Green near Farham, we'd always go down to Southsea and seeing the Hovercrafts was a special treat, they had massive ones at the old naval station there and these would cross the road to get to the sea then.

[@cambs0181]

I thought all passenger hovercrafts were now defunct. To see this is great as I have always wanted to travel on one. Will be checking this out next time I'm on the south coast.

[@fauzirahman3285]

Back in the 90s, I had the opportunity to ride on a passenger service hovercraft to get to a southern island off the coast of Singapore called Bukom, and later transferred to a smaller ferry to get to an island further south to visit some family friends. Unfortunately the people of those southern islands have since been relocated to the Singapore main island and so that service has since been limited to only personnel working on Bukom. I'm not sure if the hovercraft still operates but I recalled enjoying that ride as a kid. It's a shame more of such operations didn't exist worldwide. Surely these are more efficient and faster than regular ferries?

[@dianeboileau2026]

Loved this and loved Sam's running commentary! It would be great to see more videos with the family! Thanks for sharing Noel!

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@westerleighwerek1493]

Nice to see your review of the hovercraft, did it myself a couple of years back, there are currently 2 in service, not sure if you passed one, a ferry takes about 40 mins, cheers Mike, Bristol

[@smikejasper4461]

Noel and his MiniMe clearly had a ball - his long-suffering Rach? 'Sorright'. Ah, sweet family life! 🙂

[@CheezyTime]

I gotta say, that looks quite fun to ride