Hoverspeed Engineering Videos
Visit to Hoverspeed Engineering (SRN4s)
This page contains photos and videos of a visit I made to Hoverspeed's engineering workshops in March 2000.
These videos and most of the other videos on this site are available in full quality as a £5.00 DVD (+ £3.50 worldwide P&P). Buy it now through PayPal or view more information about it at the JHS shop. Photographs associated with these videos can be found on the Hovercraft Tour.
Videos (follow the image galleries):
Image Gallery: Raising on the Jacks
The Princess Anne arrives from France at the jack pads for the night. |
Unloaded, view onto the car deck. |
The jacks' (7 in total) control panel, in a hut to the forward of the hovercraft's position. |
Raising up the ~212 tonnes of craft on the 7 hydraulic jacks. |
View along the craft. Note the special engineers' steps. |
Fascinating view INSIDE the skirt! Descending into the plenum chamber via rope ladder from an access hatch was not for the faint hearted. |
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The forward-most hydraulic ram (of 7 total) supporting the hovercraft on one of 7 giant rubber pads, placed at strategic strong-points throughout the craft's superstructure. | |
Image Gallery: Inside the engineering sheds
Re-spraying one of the SRN4's tail fins for service. |
A pylon being re-sprayed with a test propeller mounted atop it. (Any hoverspeed engineers out there: why did they do this?) |
A Rolls-Royce Marine Gas Proteus engine ready for installation into one of the two craft. |
Image Gallery: Inside The Princess Margaret during maintenance
For more images, and detailed explanations of some of the items featured in this gallery and on this page including its videos, see the SRN4 Features Tour.
The Princess Margaret, at the time out of service for a major overhaul, sitting to the right hand side of the hover-pad. |
The Princess Margaret, with her bow section under scaffolding. |
Car deck of The Princess Margaret, during the engineering works. |
A lift fan positioned out of its housing on the car deck. Hand for scale. |
The maintenance hatch at the rear of the craft leading into the electronics bay. The lift fan air duct is clearly seen to the left of the photograph. |
An engine in situ in The Princess Margaret. Note the drive-shaft connected to the engine in the foreground. |
The electronics bay. |
Video 1: Tour of The Princess Anne
- The Princess Anne arrives, unloads
- Adjusting the craft's position for jacking up
- Tour of The Princess Anne and The Princess Margaret's systems
Video 2: Jacking up The Princess Anne
- Jacking up process
- Walkaround under the skirt
- View into the skirt
- View from the roof
- Cockpit tour
Page updated: Monday, August 29, 2011