Claims
- 1. A high-speed air-supported vehicle having an air cushion landing system, comprising:airfoil means for producing lift; front seal means forming a leading edge of at least a portion of said airfoil and lifting body means; means for blowing air into a cavity behind said front seal means; and, suction slot for skimming off a turbulent boundary layer of air.
- 2. A high-speed air-supported vehicle having an air cushion landing system, comprising:airfoil means for producing lift; front seal means forming a leading edge of at least a portion of said airfoil and lifting body means, wherein said front seal comprises an exposed upper seal surface; and, means for blowing air into a cavity behind said front seal means.
- 3. A high-speed air-supported vehicle having an air cushion landing system, comprising:airfoil means for producing lift; front seal means forming a leading edge of at least a portion of said airfoil and lifting body means; means for blowing air into a cavity behind said front seal means; and, a suction slot near a leading edge of said airfoil and extending transverse to a flow of air therepast.
- 4. A high-speed air-supported vehicle having an air cushion landing system, comprising:airfoil means for producing lift; front seal means forming a leading edge of at least a portion of said airfoil and lifting body means; and, means for blowing air into a cavity behind said front seal means, wherein said means for blowing air is located near the lowest portion of said seal and faces aft, whereby said means for blowing air fills in said cavity.
- 5. A high-speed wing-in-ground-effect vehicle which is resistant to yaw and roll caused by cross-winds when said vehicle is operated at high speeds, comprising:a body portion; first and second air fins extending upwardly and outwardly from said body portion; first and second water fins extending downwardly and inwardly from said body portion.
- 6. A convertible vehicle, comprising:a hull comprising an upper surface which includes a convertible top that is movable to expose a compartment; said hull being shaped such that an airflow reattaches at an aft end of said compartment so as to prevent turbulence and loss of lift, said hull being shaped such that said airflow remains attached when said compartment is exposed and said vehicle is operating at high speeds.
- 7. The convertible vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said compartment comprises a flat surface of dimensions suitable for receiving an aircraft.
- 8. The convertible vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said hull comprises a wing-in-ground-effect vehicle hull.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Ser. No. 08/802,774 filed Feb. 21, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,559 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/012,222 filed Feb. 23, 1996, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/012222 |
Feb 1996 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/802774 |
Feb 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/365229 |
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US |