Hovercraft Museum Established

1980

The Hovercraft Museum was formally established in 1980 to preserve and document the heritage of hovercraft technology development, particularly British achievements in this distinctive transportation mode. In its early years following establishment, the museum's collection was dispersed across multiple temporary locations, with significant holdings stored at Eastney Fort in Portsmouth due to space constraints and lack of permanent facilities. The hovercraft, invented by Sir Christopher Cockerell in the 1950s, represented a uniquely British innovation that had achieved commercial success on cross-Channel services and demonstrated significant military applications. By the 1980s, most commercial hovercraft operations had been discontinued or replaced by faster ferry technologies, and preservation of representative examples and technical knowledge became essential for historical documentation. The museum's formal establishment occurred through creation of the British Hovercraft Museum trust in 1986, establishing governance structures and charitable purposes for the organization. This formal establishment enabled the museum to apply for grants, acquire donations, and plan for permanent facility development. In December 1992, following a decade of planning and fundraising, the museum relocated to two hangars at the former HMS Daedalus site. This relocation provided secure, climate-controlled storage enabling better conservation of the collection, while also making the facility accessible to public visitors. The museum now holds over 60 hovercraft of various designs, including the SR.N5 passenger transport, the SR.N6 military transport used by British armed forces, and the world's largest civil hovercraft, the SR.N4, which had operated on cross-Channel services. The collection documents the technical evolution of hovercraft design over three decades of development. The museum has become a major heritage attraction, preserving an important chapter of British technological innovation and transport history.

Context

The hovercraft was a uniquely British innovation developed in the 1950s-60s, with subsequent commercial and military applications across Europe. By the 1980s, most commercial hovercraft operations had ceased or been superseded by faster technologies. The preservation of working examples and technical knowledge became increasingly important as hovercraft technology moved into history. Lee-on-the-Solent's aviation heritage made it a logical location for a museum dedicated to this distinctive transportation innovation.

Impact

The Hovercraft Museum established Lee-on-the-Solent as a unique centre for maritime transportation heritage and technological innovation preservation, transforming the decommissioned naval air station into a cultural heritage facility.