Hovercraft being broken up
Discussion
A petition to save at least one of them has been started
https://www.change.org/p/homes-and-communities-age...
https://www.change.org/p/homes-and-communities-age...
I've been on Princess Margaret on a crossing many years ago and used to watch them flying into port when I was at boarding school in Dover......mighty impressive and the noise was
What a shame at least one isn't being kept somewhere for future generations to admire. I bet Cockerell is facepalming as I write
What a shame at least one isn't being kept somewhere for future generations to admire. I bet Cockerell is facepalming as I write
Scuffers said:
Having lost concorde and the Vulcan (from the sky's) this really is vandalism of our heritage.
out of interest just how impossible would it be to get one operational again?
I'm told they've suffered quite badly from neglect; the hovercraft museum were not allowed to do much as they do not own them and in any case they have bugger all money; lottery money is there for the taking but they need a permanent home, which HMS Daedalus is unlikely to be as the council want housing. It's just a big metal box, sheet aluminium riveted together like an aircraft, so it could be repaired. Theoretically you could retrofit alternative gas turbines in place of the Proteus as RR do not support them, there are no spares available anywhere and in any case the SRN4 had their Proteus removed by the owner as he wanted them for spares for his motor yacht. The Russkies make the UGT3000, or there's the RR MT7, GM LM500, Vericor TF40, P&W ST40M, all put out about the same power as the Proteus, weigh less and burn less fuel. Plucking a figure out of the air, £10m would probably do it.out of interest just how impossible would it be to get one operational again?
hammo19 said:
I used to watch these depart from Pegwell Bay before they went to Dover. My mum still lives on the road above the old Hoverlloyd hoverport.
Terrible news.....sign the petition everyone
Pegwell has been talked about as a permanent home for the Hovercraft Museum, but as ever it appears money is the issue. It's probably unsuitable for housing so maybe available for cheap.Terrible news.....sign the petition everyone
Edited by hidetheelephants on Sunday 31st January 10:48
I understand the owner bought them as he needed the engines for his boat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wensley_Haydon-Baill...
We've discussed the boat a while back on the PH wooden boat thread. She remains at the same place on the Itchen as she has done for about 5 or so years since she left Gun wharf at Portsmouth. She's looking pretty sad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wensley_Haydon-Baill...
We've discussed the boat a while back on the PH wooden boat thread. She remains at the same place on the Itchen as she has done for about 5 or so years since she left Gun wharf at Portsmouth. She's looking pretty sad.
ChemicalChaos said:
If they can be saved by moving them to a new home, how the hell do you move them?!
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