Flexible skirt for large hovercraft - with two section edge having open profile lower edge

摘要

The large, high speed hovercraft has a double edged shirt to enable it ot travel in heavy seas without danger of 'tuck-under'. The upper edge of the skirt is formed by a closed section (51) secured on the craft by two seams (54, 56) set at different heights and lateral spacing. Simple flap valves (59) inflate the section and prevent it from deflating when compressed by large waves. The lower section of the skirt has open profile walls (60) fastened to the bottom of the upper section, and coupled to the hull by flexible walls (63). As the skirt skims over large waves it is flattened outwards, to give a more stable position.