Stock Photo - Jun. 06, 1961 - Britain's first 'Hovership' - makes its Public debut, It just floats across top of the water.70 Passengers; Britain's first 'Hovership' - built by William Denny an Brothers Ltd., in collaboration with Hovercraft Development Ltd., made its first public debut yesterday - on Gareloch, near Dumbarton. The 4 1/2 ton machine is the first phase of an intensive research program being undertaken to produce a passenger carrying hoverferry b y next year. It is the first of the 'side wall' hovercraft primarily for marine purposes and differs from other experimental hovercraft types in that its side walls remain continuously in water and the machine never really becomes fully airborne, although its weight is supported by the air cushion. It is built of plywood and sheet steel and measures 60 ft x 10 ft. and normally manned by a crew of three, a pilot and two instrument observer. The side walls retain t he air cushion under the craft and the cushion is contained at each end by a certain formed by a thin jet air forced downwards and inwards along the full width of the craft between the walls. Forward propulsion of the machine is provided by two 'Mercury' 300 outboard motors with variable pitch propellers - each developing 35 bhp while ------the fans is provided by two 3 cylinder two stroke excelsior engines, each developing 25 bhp. A speed of 35 knots is aimed at for safe navigation of rivers and estuaries. The maximum speed of the research vehicle is in the region of 15-17 knots. Photo Shows View at speed of the 'Hovership' on Gareloch, near Dumbarton. (Credit Image: © Keystone Press Agency/Keystone USA via ZUMAPRESS.com)