Early Experiments & SR.N1 Hovercraft

5. A cross-sectional diagram of the SR.N1 showing the airflow for the lift function	6. And the same diagram showing the craft when hovering on its cushion	7. Cut-away diagram of the SR.N1 to show the air flow from the intake to perform the functions of lift, propulsion and control (BHC)	8. A schematic of the SR.N1 Mk I, still with wheeled beaching gear attached (BHC)
9. Early 1959 in the workshops of Saunders Roe, the SR.N1 is under construction (BHC)	10. The Alvis Leonides 450 HP engine being lowered in to it's cowling (BHC)	11. The engine is in the centre 'funnel', and you can make out the outer buoyancy tank with the two jet rings either side (BHC)	12. The completed SR.N1 undergoing hovering trials in June 1959 (BHC)
13. Another view of the hovering trials showing the minimal ground clearance (BHC)	14. The craft is slowly eased around the pad for the first time	15. The craft is manoeuvred around the East Cowes pad	16. In front of company officials and technicians, the SR.N1 'does its stuff'
17. A low angle showing the small hover height	18. 11th June 1959 and the SR.N1 is presented to the press	19. A close up of the cockpit with Chief Test Pilot Peter Lamb at the controls	20. The press clamour for that all important picture
21. The craft hovers on the pad with technicians aboard	22. The press demand the craft demonstrated on water, and so the SR.N1 is pushed to the water's edge	23. June 1959 and the SR.N1 takes to the water for the first time in front of the Saunders Roe (BHC) slipway at East Cowes	24. The craft is towed out in to the Solent (BHC)
25. The speeding SR.N1 in the Solent during its demonstration to the press (BHC)	26. The famous shot of the craft in front of the Queen Mary (BHC)	27. Now with a protective bow structure for waterborne operations, the craft again leaves the slipway (BHC)	28. Another shot of the craft on trials in the Solent
29. The SR.N1 is lifted aboard a tender to be taken to Calais for the first Channel crossing back to the UK (BHC)	30. The SR.N1 on its cross- Channel trip on 25 July 1959. The figure on the bow is Christopher Cockerell acting as moveable ballast (BHC)	31. Aerial views of the craft on it's historic Channel crossing	32. The craft encountered some small waves and occasionally 'ploughed in'
33. Another view from the rear of the craft while underway	34. Throughout the trip, the SR.N1 was shadowed by a fast motor launch and a light aircraft	35. The craft finally reaches the marked area on the beach at Dover...	36. ...and immediately comes to rest on the sloped sands, the crew tired and looking for breakfast !
37. The SR.N1 is demonstrated on the beach at Dover after the first Channel crossing from France (BHC)	38. Another picture of the craft being demonstrated to interested crowds on the beach at Dover (BHC)	39. At the 1959 Farnborough Airshow, the SR.N1 was called upon to transport 20 marines in a demonstration (BHC)	40. The Duke of Edinburgh about to take the SR.N1 for a spin in which he managed to dent the craft due to excessive speed ! (BHC)
41. A good side view of the Mk I craft in the hover showing the ground clearance (BHC)	42. The SR.N1 Mk II at speed, now with a Blackburn Marbore jet engine on the rear deck providing extra forward thrust (BHC)	43. The craft passes the Houses of Parliament on the Thames (BHC)	44. The SR.N1 Mk III, now with an Armstrong Siddeley Viper engine of almost twice the thrust of the Marbore (BHC)
45. The Mk III at speed on the River Medina in mid-1961 (BHC)	46. Now updated to Mk IV in 1961, a pointed bow and stern have been added (BHC)	47. Now Mk V in 1962, with a 4ft high skirt fitted (BHC)	48. Stern view of the Mk V showing the complex skirt arrangement (BHC)
49. With the skirt fitted, the craft could climb obstacles with relative ease (BHC)	50. SR.N1 Mk V operating over saltings. Gullies up to 7m wide and 1m deep could be negotiated (BHC)	51. The Mk V craft crossing the road at the top of the slipway at HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent (B. Russell)	52. The SR.N1 Mk V on display at Browndown towards the end of it's operational career (BHC)
53. The cockpit of the SR.N1 Mk V shows the relatively uncomplicated controls (BHC)	54. The SR.N1 as she is now on display at the Science Museum's Wroughton facility (K. Jackson)	55. These photos were kindly supplied by Kevin Jackson who runs the Model Hovercraft Homepage. Visit via this link	56. A view of the spare Alvis Leonides engine on display next to the craft (K. Jackson)
57. Looking at the craft from the port rear quarter. Note the slight damage to the starboard rudder top section (K. Jackson)	58. A view under the craft made possible by peeling a section of skirt back from its hinge mounts (K. Jackson)