Sir Christopher Cockerell of UK was the inventor of the "Hovercraft" - the vehicle that moved on an air-cushion. The vehicle has no contact with the ground and it can move on land as well as water. Basically, the vehicle consists of a body or hull in which a rotor is provided to produce the air-cushion. The rotor or fan produces a ring-like flow of air close to the surface of the ground for lift. For forward propulsion of the vehicle, one or more horizontal-thrusting propellers are provided.

Cockerell started his boat building business in the early 1950s after his stint in radio and television transmission with Marconi during the pre and post-world war period. He became interested in the interaction between boats and water. His research on overcoming friction led him to investigate air lubrication and air cushion devices. His first equipment included a cat food tin, a coffee tin and a vacuum cleaner. The concept of a hovercraft was patented in 1955.

Further development was delayed since the device was considered as a top secret due to the military potential it had. The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) set up a publicly-owned subsidiary called Hovercraft Development with Cockerell as the consultant and director. The Saunders-Roe company was contracted to build the first full-sized vehicle. It was launched in 1959, crossing the British Channel. The first commercial version was put into service in 1966. But NRDC's decision to license the technology to overseas competetors caused a misunderstanding with Cockerell. He left the board of Hovercraft Development in 1966 and returned to his boat-building business, unhappy that his claims were ignored. Cockerell was knighted in 1969 and left for the heavenly abode in 1999 at the age of 88.