Air-cushioned cruising

Hovercrafts are perhaps one of the great underappreciated inventions, writes Paula Hammond, but you can shed light on the unique mode of transport by showcasing the stamps that feature them

Although engineers had tinkered with the concept of hovering crafts for centuries, it wasn’t until 1915 that an Austrian naval officer, Dagobert von Thomamühl, built the world’s first air-cushion boat. Intended to work as a fast-deployment troop carrier, several were made but ultimately mothballed. Further military applications emerged in the 1930s, but this, too, was discontinued.

Today, Britain’s Christopher Cockerell is the name most associated with the hovercraft design we’re familiar with, although it was C.H. Latimerneedham who added the inflatable skirt that made the vehicle so stable and flexible. Latimerneedham later went on to work for Saunders-roe who produced the first British hovercraft, the SR.N1 (Saunders-roe Nautical 1).

The word ‘Hovercraft’ is actually a trademark but, now used generically, air-cushion vehicles continue to have a wide-range of applications. There are racing hovercraft, large and small commercial hovering ferry services, and vast military air-cushion vehicles. Air-rider hovercraft are used for diamond mining and because hovercraft are fast and manoeuvrable on everything from water to mud, they’re used around the world by rescue services. All of this makes hovercraft a wide, varied, and unusual transport theme.

A good starting point is GB’S 1966 British

Technology stamp, featuring the SR.N6, which was the world’s first hovercraft to enter commercial service. The SR.N4, the world’s largest hovercraft, was celebrated on the spectacular 1999 Lesotho six-value stamp-sheet, which also includes the SR.N130. Madagascar’s 1994 Passenger and Cargo Craft seven-stamp set shows a range of fabulously-illustrated passenger and commercial ships, including their hover-ferry service. For a superb example of a military air-cushion vehicle, look no further than Mozambique’s 2018 release, which shows a Zubr-class Soviet-designed craft, used as an amphibious landing vehicle. India’s 2008 postal release turns the focus towards rescue vehicles, with stamps commemorating the 30th anniversary of the nation’s coast-guard. The mini-sheet includes four stamps highlighting service vehicles, including helicopters, lightaircraft, and hovercraft.

One of the more interesting items from Britain’s hovercraft golden age are the 1971 postal strike labels, which feature aeroplane and hovercraft airmail ‘stamps’ produced by Europa, one of dozens of private postal providers who were allowed to issue stamps and deliver mail during the week strike.

The history of hovercraft development wasn’t always plain sailing, but a hovercraft thematic is certain to give your collection a lift!