Hovercraft Museum facts for kids
Mark 3 SR.N4, The Princess Margaret, was dismantled for scrap at Lee-on-Solent in March 2018
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | Building 40, Daedalus Site, Argus Gate, Chalk Lane, Lee-on-Solent, Hants PO13 9JY England |
| Type | Maritime museum |
| Collection size | 60 full size craft Hovercraft archive and library |
The Hovercraft Museum is a special place in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, England. It is run by a charity and is all about amazing hovercraft!
This museum has over 60 hovercraft of different types and sizes. It is located right next to a large slipway at Solent Airport Daedalus. This is where many hovercraft were once tested. The collection includes famous hovercraft like the SR.N5 and SR.N6. You can also see the very last SR.N4 craft here. This was once the world's largest hovercraft used for carrying people and cars across the English Channel. It stopped running in 2000.
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Discover the Hovercraft Museum
The Hovercraft Museum first opened its doors in 1988. It is a museum about the sea and the unique vehicles that travel on it. It is a great place to learn about the history of these incredible machines.
What You Can See
The museum's collection is truly unique. It has many full-sized hovercraft. These include the smaller SR.N5 and SR.N6 models. The biggest star is often the SR.N4, known as The Princess Margaret. Imagine a vehicle that can carry hundreds of people and cars!
The World's Largest Hovercraft
The SR.N4 was a giant of the hovercraft world. It used to travel between England and France. It was like a ferry, but it floated on a cushion of air. Seeing this huge machine up close is a highlight for many visitors.
A Treasure Trove of Information
Beyond the hovercraft themselves, the museum also has a huge library. This library is filled with documents, films, photos, and drawings about hovercraft. It is the largest collection of its kind in the world!
Research and History
Many hovercraft companies have given their old records to the museum. This helps keep the history of hovercraft safe. If you are really interested, you can even arrange to do research there.
Amazing Models and Inventions
The museum also displays many small models of hovercraft. These were made by the original manufacturers. One very special item is the world's first working hovercraft model. It was built by Christopher Cockerell, the inventor of the hovercraft!
Museum Updates and Recognition
The Hovercraft Museum closed for almost two years for important building work. It happily reopened its doors in January 2016.
Protecting History
After reopening, the future of the large SR.N4 hovercraft became uncertain. The land where it sits was planned for new buildings. The museum started a special request to save one of these important craft. They wanted to make sure this piece of history was protected.
A Recognized Museum
In October 2023, the Hovercraft Museum received a special award. It achieved Arts Council England Accreditation. This means the museum meets high standards. It joins over 1,700 other museums in this important program. This recognition shows the museum is well-run and cares for its collections.
