The first hovercraft built in 1960 by Britten-Norman Ltd (manufacturer of aircraft) was known as just the 'cushioncraft', later it was designated the CC1. Originally based at Bembridge Airport on the Isle of Wight, Cushioncraft later moved to the Duver Works at St. Helens, these works gave ready access to the sheltered water of Bembridge Harbour.
Freedom 90 - Hovertravel started their cross Solent services, Ryde to Southsea and Ryde to Stokes Bay (near Gosport) in July 1965 using SR-N6 craft. Although in the first year the service operated year round, in 1966 they ceased at the end of the summer to resume the following April.
Hovercraft Development Ltd was established in 1959 by the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) to develop and exploit the early hovercraft patents. HDL had a facility at Hythe on Southampton Water where the HD-1 and HD-2 development craft were developed.
The HD-1 was of mainly wooden construction and was built by ship builders J. Samuel White of Cowes, Isle of Wight - the craft was described as the first non-amphibious craft with air curtains at both the front and rear (or bow and stern for the nautically minded!). Built as a full scaled test bed for skirts and control.
Hovermarine was formed in 1965 and displayed at Hovershow '66 sidewall hovercraft with 30 to 60 seat capacity together with larger (car carrying) craft up to 300 tons. A licence for the use of HDL patented features was granted early 1967 with the prototype being completed in January 1968. In late 1967, Hovermarine took over the Hovercat developed by the Manx Hovercat company.The first HM-2 sidewall craft was operated by Seaspeed in 1968 between Ryde Pier Head and Portsmouth Harbour.
The BHT130 hovercraft has a 20 tonne or 131 passengers payload, designed by Hoverwork and fitted out at their St Helens works. The first welded aluminium hull (fabricated by Aluminium Ship Builders, Fishbourne, Isle of Wight) arrived at Hoverwork's St Helens works in August 2005
In 1958, the National Research and Development Corporation awarded Saunders-Roe a contract to build the first full sized hovercraft - the SR-N1 (Saunders-Roe - Nautical One). On the 11th June 1959, the SR-N1 was launched and, only 5 weeks later, the SR-N1 became the first hovercraft to cross the English Channel from Calais to Dover.
