hydrofoil
Sign in to saveA hydrofoil is a lifting surface, or foil, that operates in water. It is similar in appearance and purpose to aerofoils used by airplanes. Boats that use hydrofoil technology are also simply termed hydrofoils. As a craft gains speed, the hydrofoils lift the boat's hull out of the water, decreasing drag and allowing greater speeds.
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19 sectionsContents
- Description
- Hydrodynamic mechanics
- Foil configurations
- History
- Prototypes
- First passenger boats
- Military usage
- Germany
- Canada
- Soviet Union
- United States
- Italy
- Sailing and sports
- Modern passenger boats
- Current operation
- Discontinued operations
- See also
- References
- External links
A hydrofoil is a lifting surface, or foil, that operates in water. It is similar in appearance and purpose to aerofoils used by airplanes. Boats that use hydrofoil technology are also simply termed hydrofoils. As a craft gains speed, the hydrofoils lift the boat's hull out of the water, decreasing drag and allowing greater speeds.
==Description== The hydrofoil usually consists of a winglike structure mounted on struts below the hull, or across the keels of a catamaran in a variety of boats (see illustration). As a hydrofoil-equipped watercraft increases in speed, the hydrofoil elements below the hull(s) develop enough lift to raise the hull out of the water, which greatly reduces hull drag. This provides a corresponding increase in speed and fuel efficiency.