Cross Channel Hovercraft

[hammo19]

My mum and her partner live in Cliffsend above the old hoverport. The concrete apron is still there but alas the hoverport terminal has long gone.

My dad and I used to dig for lug worm in Pegwell Bay with the hovercraft shooting by making a fabulous noise.

I travelled on them regularly to Calais and as an Air Cadet had a visit to the explore Princess Anne we even went under her skirt!

[Riley Blue]

hammo19 said:

.... and as an Air Cadet had a visit to the explore Princess Anne we even went under her skirt!

Treason!! To the Tower with him...!!

[K50 DEL]

grumpy52 said:

One of the captains was known as Rambo .He was the only captain never to get stranded in France. Whatever the weather he came home .The shore crew were not impressed with having all that vomit .
The best sight was the hovercraft club and all the smaller craft exiting the mother ship after a Goodwin Sands trip .

Had him as captain several times I reckon, I used to do 5 return trips a month on the Hovercraft for a period of a couple of years back in the late 90s,
absolutely loved them, I don't get seasick at all and watching people turn green in the worst crossings was always funny.

Very much miss Hoverspeed, whilst the ferry is good, it's just not the same.

[C997]

First time I ever 'flew' was in one of those. Only memory was the number of people being ill and finding it funny. Second flight was a Chinook as a 17 year old, much much worse.

[grumpy52]

The conversations between Hovercraft and Port Control could be interesting if anything had impeded a hovercraft entering Dover harbour .
A few yacht skippers have got a fright after ignoring or forgeting to contact harbour control when a hovercraft is barrelling in .
Their emergency action is to spin .