Hovercraft departing from Dover
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
- Hoverspeed's SR.N4 "The Princess Margaret" departing from the Western Docks in Dover. Filmed in July 2000, just 3 month before these great machines were taken out of service. Sorry for the bad audio quality.
I used to travel on these quite a lot in the late 80s/early 90s and they were just fantastic. Though they weren't the height of comfort, the service was fast and reliable. What a buzz just to watch them, so impressive. Such a shame they have gone now. The fastest crossing I went on was 26 minutes (the record is 22) port to port - unbelievable, if I remember correctly, top speed that day was 63 knots...that's seriously fast!
Aww, the good old days. How I loved being onboard when the pilot/captain opened the throttle and the craft suddenly went up.
I was fortunate to have gone across the channel both ways(Dover to Calais,Calais to Dover) on these wonderful machines in the summer of 1984.
Thank you for the upload ! I have always been fascinated by these machines since I was a kid. Too bad they have been decommissioned now.
Yes, a hovercraft can indeed float, there is an inner floatation skirt, what the thing sits on when the engines are not running.
The reason they were taken out of service is that they were no longer profitable, nor any other sort of ferry, replaced by the chunnel.
I have a home built hovercraft that is based on a tractor innertube that is covered in fabric and a large lawnmower engine.
It is a lot of fun to zip over the water, or grass, or roadway.
Something you can also do.
I like the fact at 1 :11 the props started sycronizing. Sounded and looked awesome. Notice the name just says, HoverCraft.
Great machines. Great footage.
Audio isn't that bad really considering. Brings back great memories. Thanks.
Wow I hope one day they will put back into full service even if only for tourist to experience!, I wish I had this exciting experience!
Iconic Dover machines. All gone now as is the Marine station, Night ferry, and many other things. 5*s mate
a walk on prince of wales pier isnt the same now without the loud noise these impressive machines used to make-echoing around the western docks harbour
Tell you what tho, I'd hate to think of th vibration if those props were out of sinc. The noise would be bloody phenomenal.
All in all, truly one of the most impressive ever inventions to come out of Ol' Blighty.
They'll be back!
i used to work on the hovercraft from Dover back in 1998 we had such a laugh although i used to survive on sickness tablets!
Awesome video, I used to love watching them go out the harbour
(brennanthebrown) it's 'bloke' mate!
the best way to cross the channel gone for ever!
They should at least bring back one. Even as a running day i would certainly pay to ride one of these
I traveled in one of these in 1970, from Calais to Ramsgate, if i'm not mistaken
that is amazing. imagine what that thing wud av looked lyk in tha 1960's!!!
Good to see this bit of history.
Passenger hovercraft still run from Southsea. They have diesel engines and are relatively quiet. In fact they sound like a bus!
These things sound insane in real life! The loudest machine I've ever heard next to fighter jets!
Amazing machine!
i live in dover, i wish this still ran from here
but this hovercraft service was STILL profitable right to the very end. It just couldn't take in enough cars, and it only operated in daylight.
Even though i live in the States, it would have been a thrill to ride on this beast.
You know, with all the Eurostar hassles of late, maybe it's time the great N4 made a comeback. After all, as the advert used to say..."it's a lot less bover with a hover"
You just don't know what you've got til it's gone!
I always here final fantacy music when I see those things.
Really a shame they retired these. I still think they could have used them for more than just transporting people. Maybe the ones left will someday be restored for excursion purposes.
Wow, that moves incredibly fast. (That's what she said BTW)
it looks like a boat with large fans on it.
@Sterlingjob
Yah, the cost sounds about right. Its the same kind of thing if you want to restore an old steam locomotive around where I live. Maybe not quite that expensive, but its around there. Well.....keep hoping I guess lol!
Really cool. Under the military versions.
silently it floats into the ocean
@Wavetalon It does yes the deck keeps it floaing.
FAREWELL TO THY GREATNESS.
why they don't use them any more?
Cool!!!
Why were these beasts ever scrapped? Seems like every brilliant invention from the 70's & 80's are being killed off. Concorde, Hovercraft have already gone what next?
@Wavetalon what meaning for LOL i don know???
they float without the airskirt
looks like a corvette from the rear
Sounds a bit loud lol. About like the convair 580.
@tvwhitevanman as a Dover Man i too totally agree its defintly not the same
@adfgfds Unfortunately they have been laid up for too long and are starting to corrode quite badly. The engines have also been sold off so if you wanted to get it going you'd have to re engine them or get some proteus turbines! I was told 8 years ago they would need around 5-7 million pounds each to get them going again! If i win the lottery watch this space!!
Because they where to expensive. But as long as I know the company 's bankrupt because nobody liked the new ferris and it was still expensive to travel with them. If you want a cheap trip, use a regular ferry. If you want a fast trip, use the tunnel. And who would use the "high speed ferris"?
yeah indeed
bigger than i remember
cool feeling when this babe used to lift
@kazim786 Just about everything is Made in China, things like toys, computers, cameras, phones, electrical equipment, etc. Also we do not have Concorde flights anymore, which is also a great British invention. We had cars which is made in Britain, such as Mini Cooper. Today, we got nothing but having to deal with Rip-off Britain, such as high living costs, soaring fuel and food prices, soaring debt, and we enjoy the worst quality of life in Europe. Unfortunately, nothing is British anymore
wow that s big
youd be doomed if you hit a sharp object in the ocean
i wanna ride!!
shame they r closed now
@DaJohann One of the loudest too XD
Now THAT's inpresive!
ModelBoatMayhem co uk
@DaJohann Yea definitely, these and zeppelins hah
WATCH YOUR HEAD zzzzzz whoops. lol
yah limey blimey bloody bloak
top gear started there amphibious cars challenge there
@kazim786 made in china
wow, a boat that starts the engine's turns and go away. this is gay vid