In 1998 the
company launched its first lifting body ship, the 65-foot 52-ton
technology demonstrator MIDFOIL, designed and built to demonstrate
the performance advantages of advanced underwater displacement lifting
bodies (overview). MIDFOIL’s original configuration
employed a thick, two-dimensional lifting body fabricated of aluminum, with
angled control fins located forward.
Further research and development
resulted in
an improved lifting
body
design,
and MIDFOIL was modified,
refitted and re-launched
in 2000. In the modified configuration the original foil was replaced
with a paraboloid-shaped, composite three-dimensional lifting body, the angled control
fins were replaced with a centerline “T” foil, and an
improved ride control system was installed.
The demonstrated advantages
of the new 3-D lifting body over the two-dimensional foil included reduced wave drag, improved stability, and higher cavitation speeds. MIDFOIL
demonstrated outstanding ride quality at all speeds and headings
during sea trials in Hawaiian waters. It is currently operated by Navatek as a technology test platform.
