The first and for the initial decades the basic mainstream for the Alekseev’s DB activities were hydrofoils. The shallow -draught submerged foil invented by Alekseev has served as the basis for successful development of Russian hydrofoils.
The essence of the principle is as follows: when the foil is reaching the water surface, the lifting force decreases, and when the foil submerges, the lifting force increases.
The phenomenon is the basis for self -stabilization of a foil moving in the undersurface layer. The principle is called “the Alekseev effect”.
The developed and built riverine and sea -going hydrofoil craft having speeds three times as those of displacement ships have enabled to create high -speed passenger transportation system on rivers and in sea coastal areas.
In 50 - s and 60 - s the first riverine hydrofoils with capacity up to 250 persons and speeds up to 70 km/h were developed.
Russian hydrofoils are famous for their structural perfection and reliability. The best evidence is the METEOR riverine m/s (120 passengers, 65 km/h) which is being built in series beginning from 1958 until now.
The 60 - s and 70 - s were marked by a new qualitative stage in the development of high -speed craft including : seakeeping increase and a significant speed increase. The activities regarding seakeeping have brought the development of sea -going hydrofoils with capacity up to 150 passengers, speed up to 35 knots and seakeeping of wave height up to 2 metres.
The KOMETA and KOLKHIDA sea-going hydrofoils are widely known in Russia.
The activities regarding speed increase have led to the development of riverine hydrofoils with capacity up to 150 passengers and speed up to 100 km/h.
The BUREVESTNIK gas-turbine ship developed the 95 km/h speed and the LASTOCHKA hydrofoil – 90 km/h.
In the 80-s the successful way of both seakeeping and speed increase was followed by development of sea-going hydrofoils with speed up to 45 knots and capable to be operated at wave height up to 3.5 metres. At the same time the capacity of the ships was increased. The Tsiklon gas-turbine ship carries 250 passengers at the speed of 42 knots. The uppermost for the hydrofoils speed of 60 knots was reached on the ANTARES patrol boat being built in series beginning from the end of 70-s until beginning of the 90-s last century.
Basing on experience and done research, the hydrofoil riverine and sea ships and boats, including passenger, cargo-and-passenger and special-purpose vessels, as follows can be developed.
