What was the first hovercraft built with

Meanwhile, American Charles J. His design was classified by the U. Department of War, which denied Fletcher the right to patent the invention. Cockerell, however, having come up with his concept all on his own and having been the first to patent, is known as the father of the hovercraft that would come to be known and used around the world. Cockerell served as director and technical advisor until The first passenger-carrying hovercraft was introduced in and was called the Vickers VA Cockerell earned more than 50 patents on the hovercraft, while working both independently and for Hovercraft Development.

He was knighted for his services to the engineering field in From to , he served as Chairman of Wavepower, Ltd. News Automotive.

Latest Articles Comments 7. Opinion Skills and careers. News Materials. The link did not work. Reply Link. Jon Excell 3rd June at pm. Phil Mortimer 3rd June at pm. John Anderson 3rd June at pm. John Patrick Ettridge 4th June at am. Ron Alexander 4th June at pm. Charles Keen 10th June at pm. Cancel reply. He was testing the theory that reducing the amount of friction caused when a boat travels through the water could allow it to travel faster — but his research led to the creation of a completely revolutionary form of transport that could operate on both land and water.

The hybrid vessel is able to hover just above the waves at sea and avoid any irregular surfaces on land. Saunders Roe, a boat firm at Cowes, was then given a contract to build the first ever, fully-functional hovercraft.

They built the SRN-1 — a 29 ft long, 24 ft wide, 6, lb model on which the First public hovercraft flight took place.