The Hydrofoil reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Hydrofoil

A hydrofoil is a boat with wing-like foils mounted on struts below the hull. As the craft increases its speed the hydrofoils develop enough lift for the boat to become foilborne - i.e. to raise the hull up and out of the water. This results in a great reduction in drag and a corresponding increase in speed.

Early days hydrofoil used U-shape foils, but modern days hydrofoil use T-shape foils which allow better maneuverability.

A March 1906 Scientific American article by American hydrofoil pioneer William E. Meacham explained the basic principle of hydrofoils. Alexander Graham Bell considered the invention of the hydroplane a very significant achievement. After reading this article Bell began to sketch concepts of what is now called a hydrofoil boat. With Casey Baldwin he began hydrofoil experimentation in the summer of 1908. Baldwin studied the work of the Italian inventor Enrico Forlanini and began testing models based on his designs. This lead him and Bell to the development of hydrofoil watercraft. During Bell's world tour of 1910-1911 he and Baldwin met with Forlanini in Italy. They had rides in the Forlanini hydrofoil boat over Lake Maggiore. Baldwin described it was as smooth as flying. On returning to Baddeck a number of designs were tried culminating in the HD-4. Using Renault engines a top speed of 54 mph (87 km/h) was achieved, accelerating rapidly, taking wave without difficulty, steering well and showing good stability. Bell's report to the United States Navy permitted him to obtain two 350 horsepower (260 kW) engines. On September 9, 1919 the HD-4 set a world's marine speed record of 70.86 mph (114 km/h). This record stood for ten years.

preparing to travel swiftly through the Gulf of Finland to the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg]] In the Soviet Union, there was much experimentation with hydrofoils and construction of hydrofoil ferries with streamlined designs, especially in the 1970s and in the 1980s. Such vessels include the Meteor type and the Vokhod type (which is smaller than the Meteor type), and they have inspired people in the former Soviet Union to continue tinkering with hydrofoils and selling them to hydrofoil companies.

Some operators of hydrofoil include:

• Turbojet Ferry, which speeds passengers across the Pearl River Delta between Hong Kong and Macau in just over an hour, with an average speed of 60 knots. Also services Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Kowloon. Operated by Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited.

• Meteor service between St. Petersburg and Peterhoff, Peter the Great's Summer Palace.

See also

• Riverboat

External link

• Boeing's Jetfoil
• Turbojet - Hong Kong to Macau Ferry

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