The Duke of Edinburgh names Hovercraft Solent Express
The Duke of Edinburgh named a new hovercraft Solent Express in a ceremony at Woodnutt’s Yard on the Duver on May 24th. The BHT 130 – the British Hovercraft Technology 130 seater - has been
designed and built on the Isle of Wight to replace the current 95 seater hovercraft on the Ryde to Southsea service.
His Royal Highness last visited the Duver at St Helens in August 1965 when Christopher Bland – now the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight - demonstrated a small Britten- Norman hovercraft prototype.