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Īlthough now a generic term for the type of craft, the name Hovercraft itself was a trademark owned by Saunders-Roe (later British Hovercraft Corporation (BHC), then Westland), hence other manufacturers' use of alternative names to describe the vehicles. Decline in public demand meant that as of 2021, the only public hovercraft service in the world still in operation serves between the Isle of Wight and Southsea in the UK. Very large versions have been used to transport hundreds of people and vehicles across the English Channel, whilst others have military applications used to transport tanks, soldiers and large equipment in hostile environments and terrain. They are now used throughout the world as specialised transports in disaster relief, coastguard, military and survey applications, as well as for sport or passenger service.

The first practical design for hovercraft was derived from a British invention in the 1950s. A Lithuanian Coast Guard Griffon Hoverwork 2000TD hovercraft with engine off and skirt deflated (first image), and with engine on and skirt inflated

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