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- June 2009 is the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the SRN 1, built by Saunders Roe on the Isle of Wight, & the start of the World wide development of the first true amphibious vehicle. To celebrate this anniversary, the Hovercraft Society, with a number of agencies, is celebrating 2009 as the "Year of the Hovercraft". So far, consideration is being given to a number of local, national and international events. Those already in the programme include a presentation by Ray Wheeler (a member of the British Hovercraft Corporation design team and later Technical Director) on 11 June 2009 to a joint meeting of the Isle of Wight Royal Aeronautic Society and the Hovercraft Society. Negotiations are currently underway with the Science Museum for a visit to the SRN 1 at Wroughton a presentation in June 2009. The Hovercraft Museum is organising a flypast of historic and current hovercraft to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the first hovercraft crossing of the Channel, by the SRN 1, on 25 July 2009. John Chaplin, who was on the original Channel crossing, has indicated that, as long as his health allows, he will come over from the States to join in the celebrations. The Royal Institute of Naval Architects will be holding an Air Cushion Vehicle Conference on 2nd-3rd November 2009, in London. In addition, a number of talks to local organisations are being organised, including an N5/N6 Seminar and BH 7 model and full scale presentation, at the Hovercraft Museum. If any local organisation would like Brian Russell, who has been involved with hovercraft for over forty years, to give an illustrated talk entitled "Fifty Years of Hovercraft Development" in 2009, they should contact Brian on 02392 584371, or at 24 Jellicoe Avenue, Gosport, or via e-mail Brianatjellicoe@aol.com.
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