hydrofoil

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hydrofoil

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

hydrofoil flat or curved finlike device, attached by struts to the hull of a watercraft, that lifts the moving watercraft above the water's surface. The term is often extended to include the vessel itself. Like an aircraft wing in its appearance and function, the foil develops lift as it passes through the water; the hull is raised above the surface, and the drag caused by the vessel's contact with the water is thereby reduced. Hydrofoil vessels are capable of traveling faster than 70 mi (113 km) per hr. They are used for ferries in many countries in Europe and Asia; in the United States they are used mostly for military purposes. In addition to offering greater speeds, such vessels do not pitch and roll as do conventional watercraft. Foils may be of the submerged or the surface-piercing type. On oceangoing passenger ships a type of hydrofoil called a stabilizer is used to minimize wave action on the vessel. The first hydrofoil vessel was built in 1905 by the Italian engineer Enrico Forlanini. In 1918, Alexander Graham Bell built the HD-4, a vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) long that attained a speed of 70.86 mi (114.03 km) per hr.

Bibliography: See C. Hook, Hydrofoils (1967); R. McLeary, Jane's Surface Skimmers (annually, 1968-); W. T. Gunston, Hydrofoils and Hovercraft (1969).

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hydrofoil

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | © The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

hydrofoil n.
1. a boat whose hull is fitted underneath with shaped vanes (foils) that lift the hull clear of the water to increase the boat's speed.

2. another term for foil.

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hydrofoil

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

hydrofoil Boat or ship whose hull is lifted clear of the water, when moving at speed, by submerged wings. They usually have gas-turbine or diesel engines that power propellers or water jets. Speeds range from 30 to 60 knots.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Skiing the sky.(Recreation)(Mike Murphy's hydrofoil invention takes waterskiers to new heights)
Newspaper article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR); 5/27/2004
Free Article HYDROFOIL LINKS PALM BEACH-BAHAMAS.
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 10/1/1999
Free Article LANVACATIONS' June Vacation Special: 7-Nights in Buenos Aires, Montevideo & Santiago from $1129.
Business Wire; 6/6/2005

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