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James' Hovercraft Site: SRN4 Last Days  

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The last days of service of the Dover-Calais SRN4

A series of flights over the weekend of 1st October 2000 saw the end of the cross channel hovercraft. The events leading up to the final flight were watched by hundreds of onlookers, and each flight was fully booked on the last weekend. This showed the interest and amazement of people who came from all over the world at the unique invention and its Dover to Calais heritage. Unfortunately, SRN4s in their ageing became too expensive to run and maintain, with most parts having to be manufactured on-site at Dover following the closure of BHC many years previously. Rolls-Royce had agreed to support the Proteus engines beyond 2000, but the rest of the craft's systems were primarily Hoverspeed's responsibility.

This page is a photo gallery taken by myself and by Thomas Loomes on the last days from both Calais and Dover hoverports. The photos are self explanatory so no captions are given, however you can view corresponding videos of these events in the SRN4 Last Days videos pages.

SRN4 Dover and Calais operations

Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - arrival at Dover Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - unloading at Dover Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - side view at Dover
Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - landed at Calais Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Arriving at Calais Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Hovering at Calais
Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - cockpit, departing Calais Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Cockpit, departing Calais  

Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Departing from Dover, engine 3 start Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Hovering ready to depart from Dover  

SRN4 Dover operations (Photos: Thomas Loomes)

Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Arriving into Dover Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Arriving at Dover Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Landed at Dover
Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Departing Dover Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - from Prince of Wales Pier Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - leaving Dover Harbour

 

SRN4 Calais operations (Photos: Thomas Loomes)

Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Calais - rear view Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Calais - departing Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Calais - departing
Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Calais - arrival Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Calais - arrival Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Calais - departing
Hovercraft SRN4 with Hoverspeed - Last days of service - Calais - departing  

Page updated: 08/15/2010

 

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James' Hovercraft Site is not affiliated in any way with The Hovercraft Museum, Hoverspeed, Sea Containers or British Airways. The intent of the two sites (JHS Concorde Site and James' Hovercraft Site) is for them to be built up by contributions from viewers: photos, pictures, data, information, stories, video captures and more are all very welcome. If you have any comments, questions or issues regarding this website, its content, or anything about hovercraft, please use the "Questions or Feedback about this Site or Page " link at the top-right of each page.

Website design, layout, background and non page-credited images, including main logo are © James Rowson 1999 - 2010. If I have missed crediting an image that is not mine, I apologise, please contact me using the contact form regarding the matter. If you wish to publish images or information credited to a person or publishers that aren't myself, I can try to get their contact details for you, otherwise I wouldn't be able to personally grant you permission to use such data.

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