The big VA3 , the passenger carrying hovercraft built by Vickers Armstrong Ltd , and assembled at thier works at Itchen , is shown being loaded as deck cargo aboard the Firth Fisher at Southampton docks , for a journey to Birkenhead . The hovercraft , which will inaugurate the world's first scheduled hovercraft service between Rhyl , North Wales and Wallasey , Cheshire on Friday 20th , has completed its trials in Southampton Water . 12 JULY 1962