Passengers on board Hovertravel’s Solent Flyer have experienced a particularly lengthy crossing this evening (Monday) due to a mechanical fault with the hovercraft.
The Flyer left Southsea at around 17:45 but just minutes into the journey to Ryde, a problem arose.
Solent Flyer has limped back to the Island at just 6 knots, taking 45 minutes to complete the crossing that normally takes just 10 minutes.
Those on board have told Island Echo that they were being kept up to date by the pilot, who said that a belt that drives the prop had failed.
Solent Flyer is now back on the pad at Ryde but only just, lacking full propulsion to get the entire way up the slipway – despite the tide being high.
A forklift has been utilised to pull the craft up the pad, with a notable and unusual noise coming from the rear of the hovercraft.
A second craft, Island Flyer, is being brought into service.
