Joining the push for faster smaller more fuel efficient watercraft, Dr. Mike Sullivan has brought together the Surface Targets Laboratory at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Point Magu, California, and American Hydrofoil (AH), Santa Barbara, California, to test the HydroPod A3000, which represents a new and separate class of hydrofoil technology. Unlike existing hydrofoil technologies, "Sub-Surface" and "Surface Piercing", it is believed AH's technology will enable watercraft to operate safely in heavy seas at high rates of speed over great distances.

Working as a team, Dave Purdy (Point Magu) and Glenn Nesbitt (American Hydrofoil) will test the low and high-end performance characteristics of the HydroPod A300 at speeds ranging between 17 and 90 knots, and in sea states from 0 to 7. These tests will be monitored by onboard electronic sensors, video documentation, and GPS gathering technologies. The resulting data will be evaluated to help determine the potential usefulness of AH's technology in the public, commercial, and military watercraft markets.

The differentiable elements of AH's patented technology are Vertical Dampeningä, Surface Skimmingä, Wave Piercingä, Wave Spanningä, fuel efficiency, and ride comfort engineering.

Vertical Dampeningä is the incorporation of coil spring and shock damps, with moment arm and tie rod engineering. This combination results in higher craft speeds in higher sea states, delivering greater ride comfort and passenger safety.

Surface Skimmingä and Wave Piercingä describe the hydrofoil's ability to operate on the surface of the water (surface Planing), above the surface of the water (in the air), as-well-as below the surface of the water (fully wetted); in-effect, Surface Skimmingä and Wave Piercingä combine to describe the hydrofoil's ability to vibrate among the three vastly different liquids, with the property of seeking the surface of the water (surface planing) at high rates of speed (upward if sub-surface, or downward if airborne) proportional to the craft's forward velocity and displacement.

Wave Spanningä technology gives AH watercraft heavy sea stability by spanning multiple wave periods, and thus minimizing local surface variations. This is somewhat unlike traditional smaller displacement watercraft, wherein designers build-in the capability to "ride-out" such conditions.

The most popular concepts for AH models range from pleasure fishing boats, to high-speed transoceanic cargo and car ferrying models, with displacements ranging from 1 to 500 tons.

The HydroPod A300 will be approximately 70 feet in length, 8.5 feet wide, and 7 feet high.

During testing, the HydroPod A300 will be equipped with two of NAWCWD's 150 BHP outboard engines. AH will finance the construction of the A300 after close collaboration with NAWCWD's Naval and Marine Engineering personnel, during the design and pre-construction stages.

HydroPod A300 testing will take place in or near the Testing Range and Port of NAWCWD, Point Magu, California.

Contact: Dr. Mike Sullivan (805) 989-9208