Patent ID: 7055450

Claim:
A transportation apparatus comprising: a first lifting body having an elongate hull operable for being propelled through a first medium, the elongate hull having a substantially flat first bottom surface, the first lifting body extending downwardly sufficient for increasing dynamic pressure thereon for reducing wetted area and frontal area drag, wherein the first bottom surface is defined as having an angle of attack with respect to the first medium, and wherein a first trailing edge of the elongate hull is operable for forming a seal with the first medium as the elongate hull moves therethrough causing a stagnation of the first medium on the first bottom surface, and wherein a center of lift of the first lifting body is forward the center of gravity of the apparatus when being propelled; and a second lifting body operable with the first lifting body for being propelled therewith in a second medium, the second lifting body extending outwardly from the first lifting body, wherein a second bottom surface of the second lifting body is substantially out of contact with the first medium during operation of the apparatus in the first and second media, and, wherein a second trailing edge of the second bottom surface is operable for forming a seal with the first medium as the second lifting body is propelled causing a stagnation of the second medium on the second bottom surface, and wherein an aspect ratio of the first bottom surface is greater than the aspect ratio of the second bottom surface, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of an effective longitudinal length dimension to an effective transverse width dimension for forming a stagnation surface area.