Hovercraft Development on the Island

1959-1960s

The hovercraft was invented by Sir Christopher Cockerell, and the first full-sized hovercraft, the SR.N1, made its maiden crossing of the English Channel in 1959. The Isle of Wight became the centre of hovercraft development and manufacturing when Saunders-Roe, based in East Cowes, was contracted to build the first production hovercraft. The company, later absorbed into the British Hovercraft Corporation, designed and built a series of increasingly large and capable hovercraft at its East Cowes factory through the 1960s and 1970s. The cross-Solent hovercraft service, now operated by Hovertravel between Southsea and Ryde, is the last remaining scheduled hovercraft service in the world. The island's connection to this pioneering technology is a source of local pride.