The hovercraft was first created in 1959, when Sir Christopher Cockerell came up with a prototype that crossed the English Channel. The SRN1, the first ever hovercraft, is now proudly housed by the Science Museum and this very British invention enjoys an active role in many arenas, from travel, leisure cruising and racing to lifesaving and transporting goods. This detailed book delves into the history of the hovercraft, from the early days of its development through to the commercial and military applications of the craft. It looks into the exciting world of hovercraft leisure, cruising and racing from amateur to Formula 1, and also explores the important role the hovercraft plays in rescues whether on water or delivering aid around the word in places that helicopters can't reach. Finally, it details the types of hovercraft in use today, and what the future holds. The hovercraft is more than a product of 1960s Britain: it is one that has pushed the boundaries of transport as we look into the future and we have the back-shed culture of Britain to thank for its invention.

Motoring journalist Ashley Hollebone reveals for the first time the full story behind the hovercraft, a wonderful British invention that was created in a back shed from a rusty food tin and an old hair dryer – simple yet remarkable! Christopher Cockerell’s 1950s invention has found a multitude of uses across numerous arenas, from cross-Channel ferries and leisure cruising to racing at up to 80mph; it has modernised travel and has an impressive safety record, yet despite this little has been written about this, one of the most innovative modes of transport.This colourful book decisively redresses the balance and comprehensively reveals the history of the hovercraft, through photographs and diagrams, making it an invaluable addition to every enthusiast’s library.

Discover the secrets of the Hovercraft. Learn how a Hovercraft works and find out how to build your own air cushion craft experiment. Explore Hovercraft design, understand the Hovercraft principle and trace the history of this extraordinary craft.

Put readers in the pilot's seat of a hovercraft! With vibrant graphics, action-packed photographs, and engaging text, this book will get readers excited about the fast, thrilling world of hovercraft. Readers will learn how powerful hovercraft move over land and water to be used in war, for rescue work, and for racing and recreation. A comprehensive diagram displays the main parts of a hovercraft. Simple, straightforward text breaks down complicated engine workings for readers. Safety measures and hovercraft history are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, fast facts, a glossary with phonetic spellings, and an index. Big Buddy Books is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

This title offers readers cool facts about hovercrafts, including what they're made of, what they can do, and how they are used. The title also a photo diagram, glossary, and an additional resources section. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. SportsZone is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

This is the story of how private foreign enterprise in the form of Swedish Lloyd and Swedish America Line, who formed a British company called 'Hoverlloyd', galvanised the British Government in to supporting this new concept in transport through the formation of a British Rail subsidiary called 'Seaspeed'.