SOLENT FLYER

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Hovercraft stranded off landing pad

The 'Solent Flyer' has broken down whilst crossing the Solent from Southsea to Ryde in the evening of Aug 22, 2020. The hovercraft was stranded approximately 100 meters from the landing pad at Hovertravel’s Ryde Terminal. It was snaking from side to side whilst approaching the island before coming to a stop on the sand. Engineers tried to get the craft onto the pad. At 9 p.m. the Ryde Inshore Rescue’s Launch Tractor has been called in to assist in bringing the 'Solent Flyer' ashore.

Hovertravel’s £10M investment

The first commercial passenger carrying hovercraft to have been built in decades are about to go into service with Hovertravel’s Ryde-Southsea route across the UK’s Solent. Built by service operator Hovertravel’s sister company Griffon Hoverworks in Southampton, the new craft, Solent Flyer and Island Flyer are highly innovative designs which combine enhanced ergonomics alongside weight and energy efficiencies. The £10 million investment will improve passenger comfort through speedier and easier boarding, a quieter ride and better visibility. Maritime Journal recently took up the opportunity of a pre-scheduled service test flight aboard Solent Flyer. Having travelled to Ryde on one of Hovertravel’s soon to be phased out older craft we were also able to compare old with new. http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/vessel-build-and-maintenance/ship-and-boatbuilding/hovertravels-10m-investment