Summary: History of the hovercraft, a completely new form of transportation.
Description: This British invention represents a technological breakthrough as a means of reducing the force of friction. Genesis of the hovercraft lay in research by Cockerell into a means of reducing skin friction upon ship's hulls. Concept of air as a lubricant. Principles of hovercraft operation and early working models. Struggle for support of an unconventional concept against conservative air- and sea-transport interests. British government project - initially classified - to investigate the hovercraft principle. Hovercraft Development Ltd established. Early experiments and first full-scale trial. Public crossing of the channel by SRN1. developing new industry - review of vehicles made by Vickers, Denny, Britten-Norman and Westland Aircraft. First passenger services across the Bristol Channel. Hovercraft service on the Thames. Demonstration and use of British hovercraft abroad. New developments in hovercraft technology - use of flexible skirts to permit operations in rougher conditions, and increase the hover-height. Laboratory test and new HB-1 experimental vehicle. Potential of the hovercraft. Construction of British designs in the USA, Sweden and Japan. Technological breakthrough achieved in only five years. Continued development will uncover new uses - the hovercraft belongs to the coming generation. Film features Cockerell on film and on soundtrack.
