Seaspeed hovercraft

[Prime586]

It's been available for a few months now, I picked up a couple back in May, my interest being piqued by having assembled one as a child, following a cross-channel trip (with car, an Austin 1100 as featured in the kit) in the early seventies. The return was by conventional ferry and I recall making a model of such a vessel too (green and orange on white - did this reflect any ferry companies' colours circa 1973, I wonder?).

O/T....but the green, orange and white ferry livery sounds like Townsend-Thoresen.

It would have been the Airfix 1/600 scale kit of Free Enterprise II, released in 1967. The ship was built in 1965 for Townsend Brothers Ferries' Dover-Calais route (alongside Free Enterprise I, and they were joined by Free Enterprise III in 1967).

Townsend merged with Thoresen Car Ferries in 1968, the ships retaining their original livery (pea green hull, white superstructure with red 'TOWNSEND' lettering, red & black funnels). in 1972 the 'TOWNSEND' lettering on the superstructure was painted out, 'TOWNSEND-THORERSEN' painted on the hull sides aft of midships in small white letters in white and the TTI logo added to the funnels in pea green.

The ships were repainted in 1974 to dark green hulls with large white company names and Thoresen orange funnels. In 1976 the colour scheme was inverted, and the hulls were repainted into Thoresen orange with white lettering and dark green funnels with orange logos.

The Free Enterprise I is the ferry that was filmed for the cross-channel sequence in The Italian Job, in the original Townsend colour scheme.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2026 ==

1960-blip year unknown I had what I now know to have been an SRN6 on a trip round the bay off the beach at Mudeford Spit; never been able to identify that working - it is /not/ listed in the known hover gen sites and I been in touch with site owner(s) on this. Apart from that unknown, I had 4 SRN6s, including Southampton Cowes. It was probably this first working that catalysed an interest in the things.

There's a Facebook post from Red House Museum with a picture of an SRN6 in BHC livery on Avon Beach in April 1969, having transported Shand Kydd/Crown Paints sales reps to visit the factory in Christchurch for the annual sales conference.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes, the kit did have Seaspeed decals as well.

I thought I saw something a few months ago somewhere saying the kit was being re-released, so I'd certainly keep your eyes open. The kit, incidentally, features the craft in Mk 1 form.

Thanks - actually when I was looking for an image of the kit to link to I did find some e-bay listings for a kit branded 'Airfix - Vintage Classics'. so I guess this what @Razorblades confirms in a later post.
Current edition also includes both sets of decals

From a current vedors webpage - Jadlam racing models

https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/products/airfix-a09171v-sr-n4-hovercraft-1-144-model-kit?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22983278804&utm_content=--c&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22983289169&gbraid=0AAAAAD-MhYGsbCW2MJTgj1_0MH_yuK2tP&gclid=CjwKCAjwhZDUBhBGEiwAbi5bjnhWbjVvCd_s_0MT3t4Z3hG8zRb3rLZMQrEtiv2P8soPoAYA7CwAqxoCuG8QAvD_BwE

A British Icon
Returns to the Range​

The Saunders Roe/British Hovercraft Corporation SR.N4 Mountbatten Class was the largest passenger hovercraft ever built when it entered service in 1969, capable of cruising at over 60 knots across the English Channel. This Airfix Vintage Classics re-release faithfully recreates that legendary craft in detailed 1:144 scale plastic. Its sheer scale and distinctive profile make it one of the most striking subjects in the entire Airfix range.

A long time since I've made any airfix kits but I have to say this would be an exciting one to do if returning to the hobby!

 

[D7666]

Third production AP1-88/100-005 GH-9031 Svalan, delivered 1984.
Renamed Freya Viking (registration A395) before entering service (unofficial SAS registration OY-FRE)
Entered service alongside Liv Viking in 1984. Like it's sisters it was withdrawn in 1994 and eventually sold to Hovertravel in 1997. After some time laid up it underwent a refit and was renamed Island Express (GH2132) and entered service on the IoW route in 2001.

Ta.

More gen. I'll use GH-9031 in my moves records if OY-FRE was unofficial.

There's a Facebook post from Red House Museum with a picture of an SRN6 in BHC livery on Avon Beach in April 1969, having transported Shand Kydd/Crown Paints sales reps to visit the factory in Christchurch for the annual sales conference.

Interesting, I'd not found that, but as I what I had must have been at least the year earlier, and was a bucket and spade brigade fun trip round the bay, certainly not a sales rep bun fight.

 

[Prime586]

Ta.

More gen. I'll use GH-9031 in my moves records if OY-FRE was unofficial.

If you are referring to the registration Freya Viking operated under when you rode it on the Copenhagen-Malmo route, I included that in my post - A395. The DSØ/SAS AP1-88s were registered in Denmark after delivery, which has no separate register for hovercraft, so they were registered as passenger ships.

All three craft and their registrations are mentioned in this US Government legislation, as after they were withdrawn from service by DSØ a US businessman attempted to purchase them to operate passenger serivces in Florida. The US has a law that states any veseel operating commercially on routes wholly within US waters has to be built in the US (to protect US shipyards), so if you want to import a foreign-built vessel for commercial operation you have to apply to the legislature to get an exemption. Ultimately the deal fell through, and the 3 craft remained laid up in Copenhagen until being bought back by Hovertravel in 1997.

The GH-9nnn registration number block appears to have been reserved by the CAA for use by manufacturers for hovercraft undergoing pre-delivery trials, similar to the UK CAA Class B test and trials aircraft registrations (G-nn-nnn, with the first 2 digits being the manufacturer's code - the SR.N1 was registered G-12-4, with 12 being the code for Saunders Roe) used on UK-manufactured aircraft when undergoing testing prior to delivery. The hovercraft would then be re-registered with a GH-2nnn number once delivered to a UK operator (the first examples being the 3 Vosper-Thornycroft VT-1s, which were registered GH-2001 to GH-2003).

 

[Acathater]

1960-blip year unknown I had what I now know to have been an SRN6 on a trip round the bay off the beach at Mudeford Spit; never been able to identify that working - it is /not/ listed in the known hover gen sites and I been in touch with site owner(s) on this. Apart from that unknown, I had 4 SRN6s, including Southampton Cowes. It was probably this first working that catalysed an interest in the things.

Have you seen this from the Wiki page for the SRN-6?
Note the bit I've highlighted -does this fit in with your Mudeford trip?

In 1966, operator P & A Campbell, in conjunction with Townsend Ferries, purchased SR.N6-024 to conduct a Townsend Car Ferries service, initially performing cross-Channel services between Dover and Calais. This service did not prove popular and was terminated after roughly two months. During 1966 and 1967, Campbell toured various holiday resorts across Great Britain, offering pleasure rides on the craft. SR.N6-024 was subsequently sold to Hovertravel, which soon deployed it on board the Cunard ocean liner RMS Sylvania in order to perform practical demonstrations in the Mediterranean to officials of various nations as well as some trips for passengers on board.

SR.N6 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Campbell's "White Funnel Line" certainly did pleasure trips along the south coast using their fleet of steamers so a day trip from Mudeford would seem quite in keeping

 

[Prime586]

Interesting, I'd not found that, but as I what I had must have been at least the year earlier, and was a bucket and spade brigade fun trip round the bay, certainly not a sales rep bun fight.

Have you seen this from the Wiki page for the SRN-6?
Note the bit I've highlighted -does this fit in with your Mudeford trip?

Campbell's "White Funnel Line" certainly did pleasure trips along the south coast using their fleet of steamers so a day trip from Mudeford would seem quite in keeping

That does sound like it was potentially the craft, HSC Brittania (GH-2011). It's brief attempt at running a cross channel service competing against HoverLloyd ended on the 23rd of August 1966 when it broke down and had to be towed in by the Hastings lifeboat. The craft was based at Margate and when not in use on Channel crossings it operated regular excursions between Dover and Margate and Dover and Hastings before being returned to BHC at the end of the season.

After it's tour of the Med while chartered to Cunard in early 1967 it was again chartered by P & A Campbell (the large 'TOWNSEND' name did not reappear on the cabin roof, instead 'TOWNSEND CAR FERRIES P & A CAMPBELL' was painted in small letters on the dorsal spine) and toured south coast holiday resorts doing pleasure trips from the beaches before being returned to BHC.

P & A Campbell had previously run a trial service across the Bristol Channel between Penarth and Weston-super-Mare in 1962 with an SRN.2

 

[D7666]

Interesting.

It was quite a while back ... errrr like several years since last I looked .... maybe pages and sites have been updated since; then back ago when looking found no ref to beach or pleasure trips at all (Goodwin sands excepted) although the hovercraft museum contacts were aware there had been some.

1967 would fit.

Ta all.

EDIT

the facebook beach images are 2024 uploads, that's way after I'd looked last, and forgotten about - and why I'd not seen them.

HSC Britannia (GH – 2011) – Past and Present

HSC Britannia (GH - 2011) - “Winchester Class” (SRN.6) Mk I Hovercraft built in 1966 by British Hovercraft Corporation, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England (024) for Townsend Car Ferries

www.doverferryphotosforums.co.uk

mentions only beach trips from Kent or near i.e. Hastings, Greatstone, Folkestone, Margate, Leysdown - which if course done not mean it did not go elsewhere.

Seems the most likely candidate though - especially as no others appear on offer.

 

[Crisso]

My very first Hovercraft trip was in May 1969 on the British Rail SRN6 Southampton-Cowes service. Couldn’t see much on the 20 minute journey due to the spray!

First experience on the SRN4 was the Hoverlloyd service from Pegwell Bay in March 1978, carrying me, a lady friend and my (then) trusty TR7! It was an early morning lightly loaded departure and I recollect the slightly surreal experience of sitting right at the front of the passenger cabin, transitting for the first mile or so across the beach at 60mph or so!, since it was low tide. Obviously no spray until we reached the sea.

I enjoyed numerous subsequent journeys over the years with the BR Seaspeed service to France, both with the current car or, as foot passenger - in the latter case transferring to the Turbotrain for Paris Nord at the dedicated Hoverport Station.

I never experienced any ‘mal de mer’ on my Hovercraft journeys - unlike when my wife and I took the subsequent jetfoil service from Dover to Calais, with its uncomfortable motion.

However, on a French trip in early 1981 with Hertfordshire Railtours, to experience the Southern half of the LGV newly opened, the Hovercraft crossing was particularly challenging due to the combination of heavy seas and a trainee Pilot under instruction! Fortunately, I was suffering from a head cold with a blocked nose so, was immune to any ‘incentives’ to cause sickness!

Lastly, did the French cross channel Hovercraft ever enter sustained service? I only saw it once on one of the French Hoverport Aprons, looking somewhat delapidated. (I can’t recollect which year.)

 

[D7666]

Lastly, did the French cross channel Hovercraft ever enter sustained service? I only saw it once on one of the French Hoverport Aprons, looking somewhat delapidated. (I can’t recollect which year.)

The French device I never saw working.

I do know one person who had it for a flight, with photo evidence, but even he said it was about as common as snowballs in the Belgian Congo (which is a saying, not a excuse to start a debat eon weather in central Africa(.

 

[Prime586]

The facebook beach images are 2024 uploads, that's way after I'd looked last, and forgotten about - and why I'd not seen them.

HSC Britannia (GH – 2011) – Past and Present

HSC Britannia (GH - 2011) - “Winchester Class” (SRN.6) Mk I Hovercraft built in 1966 by British Hovercraft Corporation, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England (024) for Townsend Car Ferries

www.doverferryphotosforums.co.uk

mentions only beach trips from Kent or near i.e. Hastings, Greatstone, Folkestone, Margate, Leysdown - which if course done not mean it did not go elsewhere.

Seems the most likely candidate though - especially as no others appear on offer.

I linked to that Dover Ferries page in my post.

The craft may have made stops further west along the coast as part of it's return trip to BHC at the end of it's charter in 1967. It may not have even been Britannia - it might have been BHC themselves (that 1969 photo I found of a BHC SN.N6 ferrying the Shand Kydd directors to Avon Beach is the only confirmed hovercraft operation from there so far - they may have operated pleasure trips from there the previous year, which may be what piqued Shand Kydd's interest in the first place).

Townsend/Campbells planned to run scheduled excursions from Dover to Hastings and Margate to during the 1966 season (with a return trip on either the hovercraft or a coach) inbetween the cross channel schedule, with pleasure cruises from Margate and Hastings beaches when they arrived (see here). However, either due to their inexperience in hovercraft operation in the Channel or the competition from HoverLloyd, the cross-channel operations were abandoned very early on and they instead moved to pleasure cruises mostly from Hastings and Margate, with a few days operatiing from Greatstone and Folkestone. This chart from Facebook shows the complete statistics from their 1966 charter period (the lower right corner shows the number of trips from each beach, and the total number of passengers - it looks like they only managed about 10 trips to Calais before giving up).

If you are looking at photos of the craft, you can tell if they are from the 1966 season by the presence of the 'TOWNSEND' branding in large letters on the cabin roof (other than the pictures of when it was first delivered to Dover, where it had no branding at all with only the liferaft text on the dorsal spine).

The branding was removed when the craft was returned to BHC at the end of the 1966 charter. The large letters on the cabin roof were not reapplied when Townsend/Campbells chartered the craft again for the 1967 season, instead it was applied in small letters on the dorsal spine.

There seems to be very relatively few pictures of it from 1967 - the Facebook post from Leysdown, this Flickr image of it at Margate and this one at Hastings.

 

[AY1975]

I read somewhere that the Academie Française (the French Academy, the French government body that regulates the French language) decreed that the French word for a hovercraft shall be "un aéroglisseur" (hence the name of the dedicated station for Boulogne hoverport, Boulogne-Aéroglisseur), but despite that, the on-board French language announcements said "Bienvenue à bord de cet hovercraft"!

 

[Man of Kent]

Lastly, did the French cross channel Hovercraft ever enter sustained service? I only saw it once on one of the French Hoverport Aprons, looking somewhat delapidated. (I can’t recollect which year.)

I don't know if it was sustained, but I have a picture of it arriving at Dover taken in October 1978.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I don't know if it was sustained, but I have a picture of it arriving at Dover taken in October 1978.

The Sedan N500 never really worked very well so it was always quite lucky to catch sight of it in service, let alone actually go on it.

In the 1990s, I was discussing this craft with the late Captain David Wise, who was the Operations Director at Hoverspeed at the time. One of the things he said to me was that "...the skirt design on it was verrry interesting!". That was his polite way of saying it was totally unsuitable.

Instead of having a bag type skirt ( for which the then British Hovercraft Corporation held the rights... for which anyone else wanting to use the design had to pay them for... ) the N500 had a small number of cells, which were basically things similar to the "cone of shame" that vets use to stop pets scratching areas that have been treated, mounted with the wider und on the floor of the craft.

This resulted in the part of the skirt that was at the water line being narrower than the beam of the craft, instead of slightly wider ( on the BHC bag skirt the "fingers" are a short distance outboard of the side of the superstructure ) which meant the craft had a tendency to roll very heavily and because it also lacked the "bag" area, there was no real shock absorber function either. If the N500 had experienced more than a single cell punctured at the same time on the same side, it would have had to drop into surface mode as it would have been too unstable to proceed in hovering mode.

 

[Rick1984]

You'd think flying on a cushion of air would be nice and smooth, but it's anything but!
I've only done the Isle of Wight Hovercraft. The old ones had a very bumpy ride. The newer craft have a higher centre of gravity and a more "wobbly" ride