We admit it, we're biased,

but read what the press say about the Hov Pod!

Independent report from Trade-a-Boat New Zealand

Santa Claus

Contract Confirmed

Following reports that Rudolph is suffering from a bout of the flu......could this be why he has a red nose?... secret trials have been taking place to try out a new Christmas hovercraft delivery service. Pictured here with one of his little helpers, Santa is taking no chances with Rudolph's recovery. Rudolph has been known to over-indulge himself with treats at Christmas time. We wish Rudolph a full recovery and hope that he is up and galloping around soon, but just in case, the back up plan is tried and tested.

Deaf & Blind man drives

Hov Pod across The Solent, UK

Stop Press!

Blind since the age of six and deaf since three, Graham “G-Force” Hicks, an ambassador for the charity Deaf Blind UK achieved a world record first by flying a Hov Pod 3-man hovercraft across the Solent and back, a stretch of water separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.

The Hov Pod is so easy to fly, that Graham learnt just the day before under supervision.

The Solent Crossing Challenge

Graham Hicks can neither see nor hear. To enable Graham to drive the Hov Pod to complete the task, he was communicated to through touch hand signals.

Starting from Ryde, a seaside town on the Isle of Wight, Graham flew with Alex, plus Graham’s assistant Robert Hall, across The Solent to the UK mainland at Southsea. Graham landed close to the HoverTravel Terminal at Southsea from where the regular passenger hovercraft service operates using a AP1-88/100, capable of carrying 80 passengers. The crossing took just 18 minutes!

Graham then flew Alex and Robert back across the Solent to the starting point in Ryde.

Check out Graham's feat on our Hovercraft Video Page

About Graham “G-Force” Hicks

Graham smashed his way into the record books in 2004 by setting a new Guinness quad bike world speed record of 133mph supported on that occasion by his pillion rider, Cambridgeshire Policeman, Brian Sharman.

Graham's achievements also include fastest journey from England to Holland and back on a Jet Ski. Graham undertakes these amazing challenges to illustrate that a disability, even one as severe as deafblindness, is no barrier to achievement when given the right support. Graham also heads up the challenges department for national charity Deafblind UK, where he works to raise both the profile of the charity and vital funds.

In the UK today an estimated 24,000 people are deafblind or dual sensory impaired. This means they have sight and hearing loss to such a degree that it leads to problems with communication, mobility and accessing information.

Deafblind UK is a national charity that provides a range of support services to deafblind adults and their carers. It also campaigns on behalf of deafblind people. For further information please visit www.deafblind.org.uk

About the Hov Pod