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Slippery Ships That Float on Air
SciAm ^ | December 30, 2008 | Steven Ashley

Posted on 12/30/2008 5:33:53 PM PST by CE2949BB

For three days in September, an ordinary-looking cargo ship traveled up and down Norway's Oslo Fjord. Few casual observers would have guessed that the 272-foot (83-meter) -long vessel was gliding on a carpet of air.

(Excerpt) Read more at sciam.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: aircavitysystem; boats; science

CRUISING ON AIR: Rotterdam-based DK Group in September tested its Air Cavity System in Norway's Oslo Fjord on a 272-foot (83-meter) -long cargo ship.

AIR CAVITY SYSTEM: DK Group's ACS pumps air about 56 feet (17 meters) below the waterline into subsurface cavities that form buoyant pockets that help reduce drag, allowing the craft to slip more easily through the sea surface. Image courtesy of DK Group

Images courtesy of DK Group

1 posted on 12/30/2008 5:33:53 PM PST by CE2949BB
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To: CE2949BB

Tres cool.


2 posted on 12/30/2008 5:35:53 PM PST by RightOnline
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To: CE2949BB

Cool, using an old boundary layer control system that I thought would work 25 years ago...


3 posted on 12/30/2008 5:39:24 PM PST by Kevmo ( It's all over for this Country as a Constitutional Republic. ~Leo Donofrio, 12/14/08)
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To: CE2949BB

donzi did it for race boats


4 posted on 12/30/2008 5:58:57 PM PST by woollyone ("When the tide is low, even a shrimp has its own puddle." - Vance Havner)
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To: CE2949BB
hover cat Pictures, Images and Photos
5 posted on 12/30/2008 5:58:57 PM PST by Snickering Hound
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To: CE2949BB; weegee; doug from upland; NormsRevenge

Hmmmm. So if we were to flood the freeways and put these cavities under our cars, we could kayak to work? Who needs electric cars!

;^)


6 posted on 12/30/2008 6:01:47 PM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (Public Employees: Honor Your Oaths! Defend the Constitution from Enemies--Foreign and Domestic!)
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To: woollyone

Good observation.


7 posted on 12/30/2008 6:11:37 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: neverdem; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...

Reminds me... anyone know about recent work on supersonic torpedoes?


8 posted on 12/30/2008 7:01:23 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, December 6, 2008 !!!)
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To: CE2949BB

oops, misread the headline. Thought this was about floaters and Gore commodes.


9 posted on 12/30/2008 7:09:15 PM PST by TC Rider (The United States Constitution - 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: CE2949BB
air bearing...
10 posted on 12/30/2008 7:31:24 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist -)
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