Hovercraft  
The museum has an inventory of all the collection, which belongs to the nation. As part of museum and galleries practice the schedule of trust property is accessioned, catalogued and given a rating as part of the trusts "Acquisition and Disposal " policy. None of the collection is insured for value, only third party, as it is mostly irreplaceable . As the only hovercraft museum in the world with a collection collected over 23 years, the web site tells the history of each craft before and after the museum received it. Most the craft were donated to the trust which has enabled us to spend the funds on moving and storing the collection.

This page lists all the hovercraft that we   offer along with a brief/detailed description of the individual craft. Newly acquired craft will be added occasionally.


SR.N4
The largest commercial hovercraft in the world. Six were built between 1967 and 1977. Two were stretched in 1978-9 to increase their capacity, making the Super 4. The Museum has had 3 SR.N4s at its Daedalus site. The craft retired from 33 years of service in October 2000.
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SR.N5
The first production hovercraft in the world, of which only   a dozen were built, mostly seeing service for the military and coastguard. 15-seater with Gnome gas turbine engine and the most powerful power to weight ratio of any hovercraft.
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SR.N6
The most successful early production line with over 70 in operation around the world throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The Canadian coastguard and Saudi Arabian coastguard ran them into the new Millennium.
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BH.7
Seven of these craft were built in the 1970s for the UK military and the Iranians. Two were   seen in service in the Persian Gulf in 2002 exercises.
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SR.N6 Mark 6
The fastest SR.N6 built. With twin propellers to keep the revolutions down making it a quieter hovercraft than its single prop sisters. Five were built of which four were destroyed during the Gulf Wars.

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Sealand
In the early 1970s, 30 plus of these fibreglass V6 engine craft were mass produced at Millom, Cumbria. Giving the north of England some government backed hovercraft investment.

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Skitabug
Two seater inflatable mass produced from the Sealand stable using a single Lloyd engine for lift and thrust.
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Hoverhawk
The HA-5   mass produced for nearly 3 years during 1969 to 1971. Hoverhawks look the part and regularly turn up second hand 40 years later. Crazy two-seaters with 3 engines!
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Marineswift
A six-seater developed in 1985 on the Isle of Wight. Based on the Air Bearings craft that preceded it. This futuristic smart craft had no visible propellers or fans and boasted reverse thrust.
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Hoverlark
Baby of the Hoverair stable during 1969. Two engines to carry one light person around over level surfaces.
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Transhover
The T-6 was a six-seater integrated hovercraft from 1975. Only survivor of three.
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Hovermini
Home built from a Mini kit car during 2000s.   But only seats two!
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Clarkecushion
One of the earliest home built   hovercraft designs with Velocette and Viceroy engine.  
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Hovermidget
The smallest hovercraft in the world. 1960s Hatton and Bass design.
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Canair
Snazzy 1980s Canadian flat pack hovercraft. Every component can be replaced.
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James Bond North Korean de-militarized zone small craft
Two of these "Die Another Day" film stars from 2002 are at the Museum as well as the larger craft.
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James Bond large craft
"Die Another Day" film star from 2002 is at the Museum as well as the two smaller craft.
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Hayes School Middlesex
Three craft spanning three decades of building and racing.
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Skima 12
The Sultan of Oman's personal hovercraft restored on TVs "Salvage Squad".
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Skima 4
The most successful light inflatable 4-seater hovercraft.
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Skima 2
Two-seater inflatable craft from 1970 with 3 fans.
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Pincushion
The worlds first inflatable hovercraft.
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Express Air Rider
1970s Daily Express Newspaper plan hovercraft.
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Early Beach Rescue Hovercraft
Not quite Baywatch, but set the trend for light hovercraft to be used in local rescue services.
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Hoverchair
Fly around the room with a school chair and 1960s vacuum cleaner.
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Heathrow Airport Fire Brigade Rescue Craft
Until Terminal 5 was built over the sewage farm, the CAA stipulated a hovercraft had to be on hand in case an aircraft crashed into the ponds. Two craft used are now both at the   Museum.
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1966 School Craft
After a school trip to Hovershow 66 one class thought they could design their own.
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Hover Scout
A Hover Knight two-seater plan kit hovercraft built from   plywood in the 1960s.
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Decider
One million pounds of government money spent on this Hovermarine man carrying test craft. 1980s sidewall.
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Hoverpallett
How to move a heavy load with one person.
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The Martyn Scott Craft
The last of Hoverclub member Martyn's   farm built hovercraft from the Norfolk Broads.  
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The Winfield
Fairground hovercraft from 1969 from the Jersey Hoverdrome. Bumper hovercraft.
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Air Lubricat
A Roys Barns 5 fanned, open-skirted, single VW-engined skimmer. Very fast but not that manouverable.
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HD.2
Experimental trials hovercraft. As significant as the SR.N1. The first hovercraft to have a loop-segmented skirt and 14 methods of control.
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CC.7
Two of these Army cushioned craft in 1975, were used in Norway, Germany and Britain. Known as the whispering hovercraft, lift and thrust provided by centrifugal fans.
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Scrapheap Challenge Hovercraft
Two hovercraft built in the scrap yard in 10 hours.
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CW2
Scottish 1960s racing hovercraft.
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GPToo
English 1970s racing hovercraft.
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The Hovercraft Museum is Registered U.K. Charity No. 1003689

 
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