Hovercraft

SK-5 City of Oakland CC BY-SA 2.0 Bill Larkins ⁶

There was a hovercraft service between Oakland International Airport and SFO, operated by SFO Helicopter Airlines during the 1960s. They also operated the helicopter service that made use of the heliport on top of the ALCO Garage.

The Port of Oakland sought approvals in 1964, ¹ and by 1965 they were doing testing on the Bay. ² They even did a demonstration on Lake Merritt. ⁷ The first official trip with passengers was August 10, 1965. One of the hovercraft carrying Mayor Houlihan worked beautifully, but the other had mechanical problems. ⁸

Each of the SR.N5 hovercrafts built in Britain carried 14 passengers, operating from August 1965 to August 1966. There was also a "hoverport" in San Francisco at Pier 50-B.

But the program depended on a federal subsidy. ³ When that wasn't available, the hovercrafts were grounded. ⁴

photo courtesy Chris Treadway

During high-speed testing in 1965, one of the hovercrafts flipped near Alameda's South Shore. The 4 people on board were quickly rescued. ⁵

Links and References

1966

1. Port Expects OK for Hovercraft Here Oakland Tribune August 6, 1964
2. ad Oakland Tribune June 4, 1966
3. Group Urgers More Hovercraft Service Oakland Tribune July 7, 1966
4. Hovercraft Hops Hobbled By Lack of Federal Grant Oakland Tribune March 17, 1967
5. Hovercraft Flips Over; 4 Rescued Oakland Tribune May 12, 1965
6. SR.N5 on Wikipedia
7. Public to Get Look at Hovercraft Tomorrow Oakland Tribune May 7, 1965
8. Hovercraft Hoopla Oakland Tribune August 10, 1965

• Hovercraft Has Shortage Of Transbay Passengers Oakland Tribune October 19, 1965
• Hovercraft Faces Uncertain Future Oakland Tribune June 30, 1966
• U.S. Aid May Save Bay Hovercraft Oakland Tribune August 11, 1966