Classic British Flight Sim

Isle of Wight, but more interestingly 2 Hovercrafts to watch (if you know the times they operate). S'cuse me for being ignorant but thought hovercrafts were no longer used!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34YMtblpGaE

For Steam Train fans: Scroll down the page.
https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk/about-us/live-webcams/


Regards
Nigel.

Is that the rail replacement bus service?

Nev

That's what I was wondering. A quiet day for a ride in Ryde.

Nigel H-J wrote: ↑

22 Dec 2020, 13:48

S'cuse me for being ignorant but thought hovercrafts were no longer used!!

Both excellent links. Thanks for that Nigel.

As for the Hovercraft, apparently this is the operator - https://www.hovertravel.co.uk/

They operate the Griffon 12000TD - https://www.griffonhoverwork.com/produc ... overcraft/

I do like the setup on the Griffon of having little electrically-powered "bow fans" (for lack of a better term) for low speed handling similar to a bow thruster on a big ship versus the much less efficient and definitely louder forward thrust ducts used on many military and earlier civilian hovercraft.

Thanks for the info Chris found those links very interesting. Also seen that they are recruiting for a Hovercraft Pilot, wish I was younger and could take the necessary courses as the average pilot hovercraft salary in United Kingdom is £53,701 or an equivalent hourly rate of £26. Any-one interested?

Regards
Nigel.

I remember seeing the SRN4's as a kid. Huge great things. I always wanted to go on one but we ended up on cross channel ferries as my Dad had shares in the company which allowed us to travel at reduced price.
I did have an Airfix SRN4, half of which was made from clear plastic, allowing viewing of cars and lounges inside.

Kevin

Used the Ramsgate SRN service quite a lot when I worked in Belgium. Brilliant service, gave me a head start on colleagues using the Calais/Dover ships.

On one trip the weather was very bad and the pilot told us he was going to do a direct crossing and then travel up the UK coast line to Ramsgate. It was an exciting ride hammering along the beaches but a few passengers were looking a bit green when we reached our destination.

Happy days.

Allan

Thanks for the links, Nigel. I read somewhere that the Class 483's were being retired from Isle of Wight service at the end of 2020. Very sad if it's true. Those old girls deserve a nice long retirement in the Isle of Wight sun after all those years serving in the dark London underground.

Brian

The 483's are now 78 years old and you cannot get parts for them. Sadly most days it is a bus service and not a train.

The newish 484 is only 40 years old.

Nev

I remember going on the Dover-Calais and the Kowloon-Canton hovercraft.

Both were very noisy and we couldn''t see anything for the spray.