The Saunders-Roe SR.N1 ("Saunders-Roe Nautical 1") was the first practical hovercraft. It was designed by Christopher Cockerell and built by Saunders-Roe on the Isle of Wight under the auspices of the National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC). Powered by an Alvis Leonides radial piston engine that drove a lift fan, and using ducted air from the fan for propulsion, it first flew on 11 June 1959 in front of the assembled press showing its capability to cross both land and water.
