Servicing Hovercraft

1. One of the Proteus engines being re-installed in a Mk II craft at Pegwell Bay Hoverport	2. The Princess Margaret, a Mk III craft raised on the hydraulic jacks at Dover	3. Note how forklifts are having to be used to move the heavy skirt aside to allow access	4. This sort of maintenance is carried out on a regular basis to replace worn out 'fingers' on the skirt
5. The starboard side of the same craft at Dover	6. The Princess Margaret with a complete pylon & variable pitch propeller in it's cradle nearby	7. The bow of The Princess Anne whilst she was undergoing deep maintenance in 1992	8. View along the starboard side of The Princess Anne with one of her rudders in it's cradle alongside
9. The Princess Margaret during her 1994 maintenance period at Dover	10. One of the propellers is run up at zero pitch angle while on the pad with an engineer positioned in a cradle in front of the pylon to check it	11. On the car deck in the foreground are two of the cylindrical lift fans which have been removed for servicing	12. The construction of the raft structure of the SR.N4 is illustrated in this view taken on the car deck during maintenance
13. Taken in late February 1998, this mosaic shows the craft during deep maintenance	14. Another view from slightly behind shows that one of the rear doors has been removed	15. A view from the front of the craft shows that the bow door has been removed for overhaul	16. A view of the side of the craft showing the adjustable steps used during servicing
17. A view of the side of the craft showing an area of skirt which has been detached from the hull for access to the underside	18. Propellers belonging to The Princess Anne in their cradles while she is in deep maintenance in the winter season	19. Taken on the Dover pad in January 1999, The Princess Anne is in her deep winter maintenance period...	20. ...but this year she is shrouded in scaffolding as Hoverspeed are removing 20 years accumulation of paint from the structure
21. A view of the scaffolding along the side of the craft	22. At the rear, some of her propeller pylons complete with props sit in their stands	23. Now looking at the side of the craft under the scaffolding, it is apparent that the structure is generally in good condition	24. This is the other side of the hull with the paint stripped off the aluminium
25. In the control cabin, there is work ongoing to replace certain instruments. Note the seats have been removed and disposed of in the refit	26. At the rear of the control cabin, there are panels removed from the instrumentation behind the hatch to the car deck	27. The Navigator's station and instrumentation has been carefully covered over during the refit	28. The Engineer's station with some panels opened
29. The central control pedestal is also having work carried out on it	30. The Captain's position - easier to see without the seats there	31. The overhead panel having been dropped for work to be carried out (David Fremery)	32. Looking through a window of the control cabin, a large panel has been cut from the roof for a replacement to be fitted
33. The view of the same hole in the roof from below on the car deck	34. On the car deck, the lift fans have been removed from their mounts for refurbishment, leaving holes in the side walls	35. Looking up from the lift fan position, through the mounting structure for the propeller pylons which had also been removed	36. Looking forward along the car deck from the rear door position, a lot of activity is evident as the craft is refurbished
37. Another view looking back along the car deck to the open prop shaft panels	38. The hatches to the engine bays are open here, and the engines have been removed for servicing	39. The rear doors have also been removed from the rear of the car deck for overhaul off the craft	40. Various panels have been lifted on the car deck revealing the buoyancy structure underneath
41. A larger section of deck has been lifted at the front of the car deck...	42. ...and work is ongoing to seal minor leaks in the buoyancy structure	43. In the forward passenger cabin, floor sections have been removed to gain access to the support structure beneath	44. The cabins have been stripped of all furnishings for a complete refit in this area
45. Looking forward in the starboard passenger cabin; it bears little resemblance to the craft in service	46. The starboard forward passenger cabin with a hole cut in the structure...	47. ...where this door used to fit	48. Outside the craft, the rear fins have been placed in their cradles for a check over and repaint
49. The registration and Union Flag on the tail fin	50. One of the propeller pylons with its propeller still mounted	51. Another view of the propeller pylon and propeller