Saunders-Roe/Westland Aircraft/British Hovercraft Corporation
SR-N1 - SR-N2- SR-N3
- SR-N4 - SR-N5 - SR-N6 - BH-7 - BH-8
- Hover Freighter - AP1-88
Sam Saunders started work in the family boatbuilding business on the River Thames in the late 1870's.
In 1901 Sam moved his own business building boats to the Isle of Wight. Always looking for innovations
and willing to build 'what the customer wanted', S.E. Saunders formed an Aircraft Department in 1909 and was involved in early
British aviation, especially in sea planes and flying boats.
In 1929, the company SE Saunders was renamed 'Saunders-Roe' when A.V. Roe took a financial interest in
the company. Through to the mid 1950's Saunders-Roe was mainly involved with high speed launches and Flying Boats.
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.
Under 'guidance' from the Government, the late 1950's was a time of reorganisation of the UK aircraft
industry, this led to Westland Aircraft Ltd taking over the Saunders-Roe hovercraft interests in July 1959.
Cecil Hugh Latimer-Needham was the person who had the idea of using a skirt to keep the air cushion under
the vehicle. In October 1961, Latimer-Needham sold his skirt patents to Westland Aircraft.
 Over
the next 6 years, the Saunders-Roe Division of Westland Aircraft designed (or at least proposed) the majority of their future craft,
the exception being the AP1-88 which was a joint BHC, NRDC and Hovertravel development started in 1981.
Picture right - BHC's Columbine Works with Red Funnel car ferry and Hovermarine HM2 sidewall hovercraft.
(picture supplied by Barry Sowerby).
On 1st March 1966 the Westland's and Vickers' hovercraft activities were merged to form the British Hovercraft
Corporation (shareholdings - Westland Aircraft 65%, Vickers 25%, National Research and Development Corporation 10%).
In October 1970, Westland Aircraft bought out both of the other partners and BHC became a wholly owned
part of the Westland group.
In 1971, BHC acquired Cushioncraft Ltd (of St. Helens) from financially troubled Britten-Norman Ltd.,
none of the Cushioncraft designed were developed further.
As well as developing and manufacturing hovercraft, over the years BHC became increasingly involved with
supplying the world-wide Aerospace industry with composite components.
1984 saw the name 'British Hovercraft Corporation' changed to Westland Aerospace as the nature of the
business had changed with hovercraft being a very small part.
Subsequent changes in the company names etc. are of little interest regarding the history of hovercraft
as the company had effectively exited hovercraft development/manufacture.
(Click on an image to get a larger version)
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Launched 11th June 1959
The SR-N1 in its original configuration - saucer shape, obvious air clearance and no jet engine behind the central air intake.
Original:
- Length 31 ft 5 in
- Beam 25 ft
- Speed - 35 kts
- 435 hp Alvis Leonide IC aero engine
 See
other SR-N1 pictures |
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Launched January 1962
SRN2 Hovercraft travelling at speed (Postcard)
- 65 ft long
- 30 ft beam
- 38 or 53 passengers as fitted at different times (it was designed to take 70 passengers)
- 73 kts
- 4 x 815 shp Bristol Siddeley Nimbus engines - 2 for lift, 2 for propulsion
See this other page for more pictures of the SR-N2
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A civilian version of the SR-N3 concept - in fact production of the SR-N3 started without the company having
a contract, if the contract had not been forthcoming, the craft could well have been completed as a SR-N2A, |
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SR-N3 Military hovercraft shown left at Hovershow '66 - 18th June 1966 (CC4 in foreground)
Launched 9th December 1963, delivered to IHTU at HMS Daedalus, June 1964
- 77 ft long
- 30 ft 6 inch beam
- 4 crew
- 37 tons
- 4 x 900 shp Bristol Siddeley marine Gnome engines - 2 for lift, 2 for propulsion
- 2 x 150 hp Rover Gas Turbines with water screws for propulsion 'off cushion'
- 80 kts
The Interservice Hovercraft Trials Unit (IHTU), based at HMS Daedalus near Gosport (where the Hovercraft Museum is located),
used the SR-N3 and numerous subsequent hovercraft to evaluate them for military use.
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above - first hover 5th December 1967 - note the original, 'lower' skirt line
Early cutaway diagram
Hoverlloyd SR-N4 Mk 1 at speed |
First time on the cushion - 5th December 1967
First time to sea - 4th February 1968
Mk 1 configuration - as originally built and supplied to Seaspeed and Hoverlloyd for cross channel routes:
- 254 passengers +30 cars
- 40 -50 Kt,
- 130 ft long
- 78 ft beam
Mk 2 configuration - modified by BHC for Hoverlloyd by rearranging internal division of craft - 1st delivered January 1973
- 282 passengers +37 cars
- 40 -50 Kt,
- 130 ft long
- 78 ft beam
- 4 x 3400 shp Rolls Royce marine Proteus free turbine
Mk 3 configuration - modified by BHC for Seaspeed by stretching - 1st one delivered 6th April 1978
- 418 passengers +60 cars
- 60 - 65 Kt,
- 185 ft long
- 82 ft beam
- 4 x 3800 shp Rolls Royce marine Proteus free turbine
See this other page for more pictures of the SR.N4
this page showing the SR.N4 under construction
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Launched 11th April 1964
- 2 crew, 18 passengers,
- 33 to 40 Kt (average service speed),
- 38 ft 9 inch long
- 23 ft beam
- 900 shp Rolls Royce marine Gnome gas turbine
Left, lower - at West Cowes with Red Funnel car ferry behind
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Launched 1964
Basically a stretched SR-N5
Shown here at Hovershow '66 - 18th June 1966 - SR-N6 with SR-N5 and SR-N3 behind
- 38 passengers,
- 30 to 35 Kt (average service speed),
- 48 ft 5 inch long
- 23 ft beam
- 900 shp Rolls Royce marine Gnome gas turbine
See also SR-N6 hovercraft in operation -
Seaspeed
Hovertravel
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The Mk6 was 3 metres longer than the standard SR-N6 and had seating for 55 passengers.
It offered greater manoeuvrability and lower noise due to the use of two 10ft dia propulsion propellers. A modified skirt and more
power engine (1125 hp Rolls Royce marine Gnome gas turbine) were also fitted. |
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Launched 31st October 1969
- 78 ft 4 inch long ( 77ft without loading ramp)
- 45 ft 6 inch beam
- 72 passengers plus 7 cars
- 35 to 40 kt. (average service speed)
- 3800 hp Rolls Royce Proteus gas turbine
Shown below with front loading ramp
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Model of 80 ton BH-8 at Hovershow '66 - concept only
- 280 passengers or 110 passengers +14 cars - other layouts were offered,
- 45 to 55 Kt
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BHC concept from 1970 for a 4,000 ton "hoverfreighter" - 'maximum speed over calm water
... 50kts (92km/hr), maximum range of about 500 Nm (920km)' |
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'well deck' configuration
(pic from srbhca.com - now defunct)
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The AP1-88 was a joint BHC, National Research Development Council (NRDC) and Hovertravel development started in 1981. It was
a step away from the 'aircraft' style design and manufacture used on all previous craft from BHC. The welded aluminium hull was
produced by a Gosport boat builder outside of the aircraft manufacturing environment of BHC and was fitted out at the Duver Works
of Hoverwork.
Prototype launched July 1982. In addition to passenger versions, cargo versions were built (see left).
Although designed by GKN-Westands Aerospace, the craft are now built by Hoverwork.
- 78 ft 2 in long
- 32 ft 10 in beam
- Operating speed 45 kts
- 3 crew, 101 passengers
- 4 x 525 bhp, Deutz BF12L 513FC air cooled, turbo charged, diesels - 2 for lift, 2 for propulsion).
see further pictures of the AP1-88 as operated by Hovertravel
As well as the AP1-88's built by BHC, at least 3 craft were built under licence by NQEA Australia Pty Ltd, the first order for
these was received in February 1986.
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