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British Hovercraft 7 would have been the SR.N7. Built in 1969 at Southampton and Cowes for the Interservice Hovercraft Unit, which was based at our site at Lee-on-the-Solent. From here the craft flew on numerous sorties including to the Arctic Circle and back, proving the hovercraft on rugged ice and snow. In the early 70's the craft demonstrated to NATO along the North American seaboard leading to the US Navy starting their own hovercraft landing craft programme, leading to a fleet of 98 one hundred tonners.
Length - 70 feet
Weight - 50 tons
Propeller - World's largest
Engine - Proteus Gas Turbine, 2 Rover Auxilliary Power Units
Registration - XW-255
Built - As a Mk.2 with a 19ft propeller. Converted to a Mk.4 with bow door and 21ft propeller. Sonar tube added 1982.
Operated - 1969 to 1983
The sonar tubes were the most successful trials but in the end the Sea King helicopter was chosen as the Royal Navy's mine counter measure craft.
Given to the Museum in 1989 by Hoverspeed without working components, removed to keep the SR.N4 fleet running across the English channel.
Floated to H.M.S. Daedalus, then an operational Navy base, then hauled ashore using an industrial air blower providing lift and 3 Navy lorries to pull up the steepest slipway on the South coast.
Awaiting the refitting of its pylon and propeller.
