HYDROFOIL DEVELOPMENT--ISSUES AND ANSWERS

The U.S. Navy has been actively engaged in the development of hydrofoil ships and craft since the late 1940's. During this period, a number of controversial design issues have been addressed by analyses, model experiments, subsystems tests, and full-scale trials of several experimental prototypes. This paper examines some of the central technical issues in retrospect and sets forth conclusions derived from development efforts. Some of the issues discussed include: surface-piercing vs. submerged foils; canard vs. conventional strut-foil configurations; retractable vs. fixed foilsystems; flap vs. incidence control; analog vs. digital autopilots; platforming vs. wave contouring; flat vs. banked turning; waterjet vs. propeller propulsion; and material selection.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Advanced Marine Vehicles Conference, jointly sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, with the active cooperation and support of the United States Navy, San Diego, Calif., Feb. 25-28, 1974.
• Corporate Authors:

  AIAA/SNAME Advanced Marine Vehicles Conference

  1290 Avenue of the Americas
  New York, NY  United States  10019
• Authors:
  • Ellsworth, W M
• Publication Date: 1974-2

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Hydrofoil boats; Hydrofoils; Ship pilotage; Waterjet propelled craft
• Old TRIS Terms: Hydrofoil control; Hydrofoil craft; Hydrofoil propulsion machinery; Surface piercing hydrofoils; Waterjet propulsion
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00054230
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Report/Paper Numbers: Paper #74-306
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1974 12:00AM