The Saunders-Roe SR.N1 (Saunders-Roe Nautical 1) was the first practical hovercraft. The concept has its origins in the work of British engineer and inventor Christopher Cockerell, who succeeded in convincing figures within the services and industry, including those within British manufacturer Saunders-Roe.[1] Research was at one point supported by the Ministry of Defence; this was later provided by the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), who had seen the potential posed by such a craft.
In order to test the theories and overall concept, it was decided that a full-scale craft would be constructed, designated as the SR.N1. On 11 June 1959, it performed its first flight in front of the public. The SR.N1 participated in the test programme for four years prior to its retirement, by which point it had served its purpose in successfully validating the concept and further hovercraft had been developed.
In less than four years following the SR.N1's maiden flight, multiple hovercraft were being designed and produced by several companies in the United Kingdom, as well as in France by Jean Bertin and Japan by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering under a license given by Westland Aircraft.[2]
- ^ Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 249. ISBN 9780850451634.
- ^ News Digest. Aviation Week & Space Technology, 25 February 1963, v. 78, no. 8, p. 41.