SR-N1 hovercraft at Calais, France, 24 July 1959. '

The Saunders Roe experimental hovercraft, the SR-N1, was taken to Calais to attempt a cros channel trip. The attempt had to be postponed owing to unfavourable conditions.' The Westland SR-N1 was an experimental craft invented by Christopher Cockerell (1910-1999), who used a curtain of high-presure air ejected downward from the rim of the craft to 'float' the hull. Cushion, curtain and forward thrust were provided by a single piston engine.