Sir Christopher Sydney Cockerell was a British engineer responsible for the invention of the hovercraft.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/359503.stm Cockerell earned nearly 90 patents for his various inventions, 50 of which were related to the hovercraft and its development over time.http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cockerell.html He is also credited for contributions to radar systems, wireless radio transmitters and wave power. Cockerell was knighted in 1969 for successes in the field of engineering.http://www.solarnavigator.net/inventors/christopher_cockerell.htm

Cockerell has received numerous awards for the innovation of the hovercraft, including the Howard N. Potts Medal, the Royal Medal, the Albert Medal and the James Watt International Gold Medal.http://www.hovercraft-museum.org/cockerell.html Due to its ability to traverse various types of terrain, the hovercraft continues to be used globally for transportation, recreation, emergency rescue, environmental research and military services.http://www.hovertechnics.com/default.htm

Cockerell received a degree in engineering from Peterhouse College of the University of Cambridge.http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-sir-christopher-cockerell-1097911.html After graduating, he briefly worked at the Radio Research Company before moving on to Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company in 1935. He was employed as a wireless engineer at Marconi for 16 years.http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cockerell.html His greatest achievements there occurred during the years of World War II when he worked with a team developing advanced radar technology.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/359503.stm Cockerell registered for 36 patents during this time, including a patent for the equipment later used by the military to pinpoint locations of German radar stations.http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cockerell.html Cockerell also invented an aerial direction finder that could locate military airmen and guide them to safe landing.http://norfolkcoast.co.uk/pasttimes/pt_hovercraft.htm

Cockerell left Marconi in 1950 to open a boat yard on the Norfolk Broads with his wife.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/359503.stm During his years managing the marina, Cockerell developed an idea for a craft that could glide over water without the friction encountered by usual boats. He began experimenting with a hair dryer, kitchen scales and empty coffee cans, finding that he could make the cans float on a "cushion of air" above the scales' surface.http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cockerell.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-sir-christopher-cockerell-1097911.html He developed various different vehicular models and was eventually successful with a modified punt that pumped high pressure air down under and around the rim of the craft. With a strong rubber curtain circling the base of the craft, the air was retained underneath to gently lift the object.http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-sir-christopher-cockerell-1097911.html Cockerell coined the term "hovercraft" for his model, which he patented in 1956.http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cockerell.html

The hovercraft was not immediately well-received; it was initially rejected by the Admiralty and the Royal Air Force for being neither a boat nor an aircraft.http://www.solarnavigator.net/inventors/christopher_cockerell.htm In 1958, the National Research Development Council (NRDC) agreed to fund the design and construction of the world’s first man-carrying hovercraft.http://www.hovercraft-museum.org/cockerell.html Saunders Roe was contracted to build the craft--named the SR.N1 for Saunders Roe Nautical One--and did so under the supervision of Cockerell.

The SR.N1 successfully launched on June 11, 1959 across the English Channel from Dover, England to Calais, France.http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cockerell.html

After the launch, Hovercraft Development, Ltd., began building hovercrafts for commercial use. Cockerell served as director and technical advisor of the firm but left in 1966 out of dissatisfaction with how the companies handled hovercraft production.http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cockerell.htmlhttp://www.solarnavigator.net/inventors/christopher_cockerell.htm Cockerell earned more than 50 patents on the hovercraft over the years and continued to contribute his engineering talents to developing wave power, hovertrains and catamarans.http://www.hovercraft-museum.org/cockerell.htmlhttp://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cockerell.html

Cockerell died in 1999 during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the SR.N1 launch, just three days before his 89th birthday.http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-sir-christopher-cockerell-1097911.html