Christopher
Cockerell, the son of Sydney Cockerell, the famous typographer, was
born on 4th June, 1910. Cockerell studied engineering at Peterhouse
College, Cambridge before carrying
out research into radio and electronics.
In
1935 Cockerell began work at the Marconi Company. At first he was
involved in producing broadcasting equipment for television. In 1939
he turned his attentions to the war effort and was a member of the
team who produced the first radio detection finder, that was installed
in all British bombers.
After
the Second World War Cockerell left Marconi
and bought a boat business on the Suffolk Broads. Over the next few
years he began experimenting with ways of making boats go faster by
reducing the friction of water. At first he worked on the idea of
air lubrication of the hull. Eventually he came to the conclusion
that a major reduction in drag could only be obtained if the hull
could be supported over the water by a thick air cushion.
In
1953 Cockerell began work on the hovercroft. After successful experiments
on Oulton Broad, Cockerell approached the government National Research
Development Council (NRDC) who invested £1,000 in his invention.
However, it took him another three years before he got full commercial
backing for his project.
The
SR.NI hovercraft crossed the English Channel from Calais and Dover
on 25th July, 1959. At that time it was capable of 30mph at a height
of 15 inches. However, Cockerell discovered
that his hovercraft could not negotiate waves more than 50cms high
and had to fit a flexible skirt to make is useable in all conditions.
Cockerell
was only paid £150,000 for his invention that took over ten
years to develop. Attempts to have this sum increased was unsuccessful.
Christopher Cockerell, who was knighted in 1969, and elected Fellow
of the Royal Society, died on 1st June, 1999.
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