Hoverhawk

The first craft HA-5 001 from 1969 has been saved as a static exhibit. This is the first production like hovercraft in the world.

Over 121 Hoverhawks were built between 1969 and 1971 when HoverAir , in Peterborough was licensed and funded by the Government. Alas more craft sold in the receivers sale,  than the previous 3 years but for its time the craft was a beautiful looking, all be it expensive “toy”. £4000 in 1972 would  buy a house so most customers had been governments and overseas.

Tested on a chalk pit and mass produced the little  2 seater  was the first production light hovercraft in the World ! The ford Model T of the hoverworld !

Craft were sold to oil industry, gov depts and  ministries, militaries  and  survey firms but performance of these three 15 HP scooter engined craft soon became apparent. Even despite World sales tours  and expeditions nothing couldn’t help the little firm, combined with management turmoil, murder and overseas investments  the factory closed with many unfinished hulls.

Today the Hoverhawk HA-5 is an icon and highly collectable. A working model restored can sell for great money, £12000 plus and  with the rare velocette viceroy scooter engine is a prized machine.

Three Marks were manufactured of which the museum retains one of each.

001 was one of 4  Mark 1- the first production craft after the prototype with wooden and fibreglass hull. It was saved by the then test engineer Mike Turner who stored it on its  side in his Manchester garden and donated in 1991 to the museum.

036 is a Mk2  and has a moulded cabin, but the skirts end short of the bow, this craft was from Barking Fire Brigade …though it was subsequently found was a firemens project used for Open days! Restored by Portsmouth University as an engineering project sponsored by Maritime Services International.

120 is a MK 3…the Wankel rotary engine used and a slicker cabin and  raised bow  skirt made it the “must have “ of 1971. New Perspex gull wing doors and latest in glass fibre techniques and optional extras were offered . Restored after being left in a field in Fordingbrige Hampshire for 20 years, complete with a tree growing through the middle .The owner farmer Jerry Dommet had bought in the 1972 receivers  auction with tons of spares all purchase with the help of Ian Biles , and sponsored  complete restoration by Terry Guyte then on the Isle of Wight. The craft is kept in working order.

Over the years,  with the many spares and many second hand hulls turning up, the museum has become inadvertently a trader in second hand hoverhawks! We have helped find homes and parts for the following

004 now in Germany rescued from outside in Scotland ..under a full bespoke restoration by Dieter Stasser.

011 and 012 from Holland ..bought to UK then sold on to Germany and Devon.

046 restored by the museum for ClassicBoatMuseum, Newport Isle of Wight..another full restoration by Terry Guyte.

056 ex Cornish  Flambards Amusement Park Mk2 now with Buckland LakeReserveEssex .. after part restorations by 2 different HoverMuseum members

058 Mike Turner, HoverAir mechanic craft ..the only MK2 with Wankel engines( mk two and a half! ) Swapped for  old staff car by trustee W Jacobs – car now restored but craft …

101  Patron Lord Hotham’s old workhorse when with Contract Hovercraft , now undergoing full restoration in Hampshire after an excellent  restoration started by member Geraint Roberts.

121 saved but cannibalised for spares  after abandoned restoration project from Brighton, the sides and bottom had been cut out but proved too big a task for us too!

Craft also reside in New Zealand, Ireland, United States and Canada which the museum helps with original parts.