Cross-Channel hovercraft

[YamFazFan]

Just been reading an article about the campaign to save the 2 redundant Cross-Channel hovercraft at the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent from being scrapped.

They have been unused since the year 2000, but apparently could reach speeds of 70 knots (80 mph!) and even recorded a Dover to Calais crossing in 22 minutes .

I never got to travel on them, but did any of you?. If so, what was it like?.

[Skippernick]

Noisy and bumpy, but good fun.

[Fazerider]

As Skippernick says, quite loud.
Also found the motion quite unpleasant: obviously depends on sea conditions, but the long slow swell at the time I "flew' caused a peculiar circular rocking. Fortunately it was bloody fast and the journey was over before upchucking could start.

[Cellarman]

Very noisy. Very uncomfortable, loved it

[mtread]

Yes very very NOISY Took cars on a car deck too, then you walked upstairs to something akin to a flight deck on a plane. Best bit was sliding up the beach

[YamFazFan]

Gutted I never went on one of them . Sounds like it was a great experience. Biggest hovercraft ever built. Guess we will never see the likes of them again. Hope the campaign to preserve at least one is successful.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-35449474

[fazersharp]

Yep been on it and can say it was bumpy, I dont know if I am remembering right but I thought that we were strapped in our seats with 2 shoulder straps, maybe because it was a bumpy crossing that day, think it was in the late 80s

[dazza]

I dont know if I am remembering right but I thought that we were strapped in our seats with 2 shoulder straps,

    Your memory is accurate, the event however.......

[chris.biker]

Well there is still the Isle of Wight to Portsmouth hovercraft I have done that one it was fun.

[pete786.u]

Went on the Hovercraft probably around  4 times, very loud and bumpy but I loved it. Last time I used it I got talking to an American family who had been told about it. It was about as rough as it could get before they cancelled it due to the weather. Realy was an intersting crossing! When we got to Calais the woman was green, dont think she thought much of it 

[BBROWN1664]

We used to get cheap travel on the hovercraft when I worked for an airline as they were considered to be aircraft and hoverspeed an airline rather than a ferry company.

Never used it though as the cheap "flight" was still more expensive than a cheapo ticket on the ferries.

[lew600fazer]

They should be refurbished and put back into service , but there sole purpose should be for deporting illegal immigrants back to were they came from.

[midden]

They should be refurbished and put back into service , but there sole purpose should be for deporting illegal immigrants back to were they came from.

why should they have all the fun