A study on high speed boat?¯s drag reduction, chaired by Dr. DONG Wencai of Navy Engineering School, has achieved substantive progresses. Based on his theoretical studies and repeated modeling, DONG completed the first model based experiment on speed boat?¯s compulsive cruising under the effect of air flow. He established an algorithm for calculating the drag met by the speed boat models and real speed boats under the effect of air flow. He also identified the elements that affect drag reduction and a method to determine the drag reduction. In the meantime, Dr. DONG realized a 25% drag reduction on a real speed boat, using a method he developed for calculating the drags under the saturated air flow.  He creates a thin layer of air bubbles (mixer of air and water) between the boat and water surface, which works as a layer of lubricant between the two fractioning bodies. The speed boat, nicknamed ?°air bubble boat?±, can achieve a reduced drag by 25%, and cruise at an hourly speed exceeding 1000 km.

DONG explains that when the hourly speed reaches 100 km, the engine power the ?°air bubble boat?± consumes only counts 3%, while air-cushion boats that are extensively used nowadays may consume 30% to 40% of their engine power, with 10%-15% for the side wall hovercrafts. In this context, the air bubble boat has an enhanced cruising capacity, and noticeable economic benefits.