My Passion with Mark Hornsey: White water adventure in a home-made flying machine

I first became interested in hovercrafts as a youngster when I saw a Walls ice cream competition which had as the prize a ride-on hovercraft.

Like lots of boys at that age, I wanted to build something that could take me somewhere, like an aeroplane or a car, but a hovercraft seemed more interesting at the time.

At my first hovercraft meeting, I was lucky enough to see 20 high performance hovercrafts gather at a gravel pit in Ashford, Kent. From that point on, I was hooked.

I joined the Hovercraft Club of GB where I sought advice and plans for a craft.

My first hovercraft actually flew very well, even though it was made of wood and ran on an old motorbike engine. Despite its fragile structure it saw some exciting action on rivers and estuaries. I was sorry when it finally had to be taken out of action.

A few years later, I built a hovercraft using fibre-glass. It was much stronger and waterproof and took about a year to assemble. My wife helped with the build and, needless to say, it was very important to get her on board.

I trialled my new hovercraft for the first time at Middleton Sands, Lancashire. Once we had tested it, the craft had to go through all the paperwork, including registration, scrutineering and licensing, to make sure it was safe and reliable, and then we were clear to begin our adventures.

We joined the Hovercraft Club trips to the River Severn, England, with 10 other hovercraft. We travelled in groups along the sand banks and channels choosing waterside pubs for meal stops. The changing water levels give a new landscape to the flying area as the tide ebbs and flows. Some of the craft flew the Severn Bore, a real white water ride with waves over 10 feet high.

The beauty of the hovercraft is that it can reach parts of old rivers which normal boats cannot. At times, it can feel like an expedition to the unknown. It's a non-stop adventure with a complete sense of freedom.

While travelling on a hovercraft can be a serene experience, there is also a considerable element of danger involved and there have been a few close calls along the way. It's like being in an aeroplane but only eight inches off the ground.

When my wife and I had children, we had to put our hovercrafting days on hold for a while, but now they are grown up, we're back on the water and enjoying it as much as ever.