The Boeing 929 Jetfoil is a passenger-carrying, waterjet-propelled hydrofoil by the Boeing Company.

Boeing 929-115-018 Cacilhas in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour
Class overview
NameBoeing 929 Jetfoil
Builders
  • Boeing Marine Systems
  • Kawasaki Heavy Industries
  • Shanghai Simno Marine
Built1976
General characteristics (929-100)
TypePassenger hydrofoil
Displacement115 short tons (104 t)[1]
Length90 ft (27 m)[1]
Beam18 ft (5.5 m)[1]
Draft4.5 to 6.5 ft (1.4 to 2.0 m) (foilborne)[1]
Depth3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Decks2
Propulsion2x Rolls-Royce Allison 501KF gas turbines
Speed40 to 45 knots (46 to 52 mph)[1]
Capacity250 to 350 passengers[1]
Crew4 to 8 crew[1]
Notes2150 L gas oil/h (consider the cruising distance per hour)

Boeing adapted many systems used in jet airplanes for hydrofoils. Robert Bateman led development. Boeing launched its first passenger-carrying waterjet-propelled hydrofoil in April 1974. It could carry from 167 to 400 passengers. It was based on technology developed for the U.S. Navy patrol hydrofoil Tucumcari, and shared technology with the Pegasus-class military patrol hydrofoils. The product line was licensed to the Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[2]

Operational history

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Boeing launched three Jetfoil 929-100 hydrofoils that were acquired in 1975 for service in the Hawaiian Islands, which were operated by Honolulu-based operator Seaflite. Seaflite operated three Boeing 929-100 Jetfoils between 1975 and the company's demise in 1979. When the service ended, the three hydrofoils were acquired by Shun Tak Holdings' Far East Hydrofoil (now TurboJET) for service between Hong Kong and Macau.[3] About two dozen Boeing Jetfoils saw service in Hong Kong–Macau, Japan, South Korea, the English Channel, the Canary Islands, the Korea Strait, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

In 1979, the Royal Navy purchased a Boeing Jetfoil, HMS Speedy, to provide the Royal Navy with an opportunity to gain practical experience in the operation and support of a modern hydrofoil, to establish technical and performance characteristics, and to assess the capability of a hydrofoil in the Fishery Protection Squadron.[4]

In 1980, B&I shipping lines opened a Jetfoil service from Dublin to Liverpool with the Jetfoil Cú Na Mara (English: Hound of the Sea). The service was not a success and was discontinued at the end of the 1981 season.[5]

The Belgian Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT) operated the Jetfoils Princesse Clementine and Prinses Stephanie on the OstendDover route from 1981 until 1997.

In North America, the Boeing Jetfoil saw regularly scheduled service between Seattle, Washington and Victoria, British Columbia during the summer tourist season of 1980. Leased from Boeing, a single Jetfoil, the Flying Princess, was operated by the non-profit Flying Princess Transportation Corp., with the close co-operation and assistance of the B.C. Steamship Company.[6][7] Regularly scheduled service ran from Seattle to Victoria to Vancouver from April to September 1985 by Island Jetfoil. Boeing reclaimed the Island Jetfoil boat and sold it for service in Japan.[8]

Vessels

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Boeing Marine Systems

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Hull Type Original name Original operator Delivery 2nd name 2nd operator 3rd name 3rd operator 4th name 4th operator 5th name 5th operator Disposition
No. 1 929-100 Jetfoil One Boeing Marine Systems Jul 1974 Kalakaua1975 Seaflite Pacific Sea Trsp. 1978 Flores Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Retired (spare parts)
No. 2 Madeira Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Feb 1975 Retired after accident in 2013
No. 3 Kamehameha Seaflite Pacific Sea Trsp. Mar 1975 1978 Corvo Far East Hydrofoil Hijet Hijet Ferry / Miraejet Co. Ltd. Inactive
No. 4 Kuhio Seaflite Pacific Sea Trsp. Sep 1975 1978 Pico Far East Hydrofoil Retired in 2018
No. 5 Santa Maria Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Jun 1975 Scrapped in 2021 (Retired in 2019)
No. 6 Anita Dan J.Lauritzen Seaflight Oct 1976 1977 Jet Caribe Turismo Margarita 1979 Sao Jorge Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Active
No. 7 Flying Princess P&O Jet Ferries Sep 1976 Princesa Voladora1980 Trasmediterranea 1981 Urzela Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Scrapped in 2021
No. 8 Jet Oriente Turismo Margarita Feb 1977 Jet Caribe II1978 - 1979 Acores Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Kobee II Miraejet Co. Ltd. Kobee III - Active
No. 9 Okesa Sado Steam Ship Feb 1977 Guia Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Scrapped in 2021 (Retired in 2018)
No. 10 Flying Princess II P&O Jet Ferries Jul 1978 Ponta Delgada Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Kobee V Miraejet Co. Ltd. Active
No. 11 929-115 Mikado Sado Steam Ship 1979 2003 Toppy 4 Tane Yaku Jetfoils Toppy 7 - Active
No. 12 Normandy Princess Jetlink Ferries Ltd. Feb 1979 1980 Terceira Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Active
No. 13 Jet Ferry One P&O Jet Ferries Sep 1979 1982 Funchal Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Active
No. 14 HMS Speedy (P296) Royal Navy Jan 1979 1982 Speedy Princess - Lilau Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Scrapped in 2021 (Retired in 2019)
No. 15 Cú Na Mara B&I Line 1980 1982 Ginga Sado Steam Ship Active
No. 16 Jet Ferry Two P&O Jet Ferries Apr 1980 1982 Horta Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Active
No. 17 Montevideo Jet Alimar S.A. Argentina Oct 1980 1981 Aries Boeing Marine Systems 1985 Spirit Of Friendship Island Jetfoil Co. Canada 1987 Jet 7 Jet Line Kansai Kisen 2000 Seven Island Ai Tōkai Kisen Co. Active
No. 18 Princesa Guayarmina Trasmediterranea Feb 1981 1991 Cacilhas Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Active
No. 19 Princesse Clementine RMT Belgium Apr 1981 1998 Adler Blizzard Adler Schiffe GmbH & Co 2001 Seajet Kara Seajets.com 2002 Seven Island Niji Tōkai Kisen Co. Active
No. 20 Prinses Stephanie RMT Belgium Jun 1981 1998 Adler Wizzard Adler Schiffe GmbH & Co 2001 Seajet Kristen Seajets.com 2002 Seven Island Yume Tōkai Kisen Co. Inactive as of Dec. 2014
No. 21 Princesa Guacimara Trasmediterranea Sep 1981 1990 Taipa Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Active
No. 22 Bima Samudera I PT Pelni Indonesia Nov 1981 2001 Laid-up in Surabaya
No. 23 Prince Abdul Aziz II Saudi Royal Yacht 1984 Rocket 2 Cosmo Line - Tane Yaku Jetfoils Active
No. 24 929-119 Bima Samudera II Indonesian Marine Jul 1984 1984 Laid-up in Surabaya
No. 25 929-119 Bima Samudera III Indonesian Marine 1985 1985 Laid-up in Surabaya
No. 26 929-117 Jet 8 Jet Line Kansai Kisen 1985 1996 Falcon Sado Steam Ship 2000 Venus 2 Kyushu Yusen Active
No. 27 929-120 Bima Samudera IV Indonesian Marine uncompleted 1985 Laid-up in Surabaya shipyard
No. 28 Bima Samudera V Indonesian Marine

Kawasaki Heavy Industries

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Built under license by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. in Kobe, Japan

Hull Type Original name Original operator Delivery Disposition (2012) 2nd name 2nd operator 3rd Name 3rd operator
No. 1 929-117 Tsubasa Sado Steam Ship Mar 1998 Active
No. 2 Pegasus Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd. Jun 1989 Active Toppy 1 Tane Yaku Jetfoils 2013 Seven Island Tomo Tōkai Kisen Co.
No. 3 Toppy 1 Tane Yaku Jetfoils Sep 1989 Active Beetle 3 JR Kyushu Jet Ferries
No. 4 Princess Dacil Trasmediterranea Mar 1990 Active Pegasus Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd.
No. 5 Nagasaki JR Kyushu Jet Ferries Apr 1990 Active Beetle 1 JR Kyushu Jet Ferries
No. 6 Beetle JR Kyushu Jet Ferries Jul 1990 Active Rocket Cosmo Line Rocket 3 Tane Yaku Jetfoils
No. 7 Unicorn Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd. Oct 1990 Active Pegasus 2 Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd.
No. 8 Beetle 2 JR Kyushu Jet Ferries Feb 1991 Active
No. 9 Venus Kyushu Yusen Mar 1991 Active
No. 10 Suisei Sado Steam Ship Apr 1991 Active
No. 11 Princess Teguise Trasmediterranea Jun 1991 Active 2007 Toppy 5 Tane Yaku Jetfoils 2014 Rainbow Jet Oki Kisen
No. 12 Toppy 2 Tane Yaku Jetfoils Apr 1992 Active
No. 13 Toppy 3 Tane Yaku Jetfoils Mar 1995 Active
No. 14 Crystal Wing Kaijo Access Co. Jun 1994 Active 2002 Beetle 5 JR Kyushu Jet Ferries 2014 Seven Island Tairyo Tōkai Kisen Co.
No. 15 Emerald Wing Kaijo Access Co. Jun 1994 Active 2004 Rocket 1 Cosmo Line - Tane Yaku Jetfoil
No. 16 Seven Island Yui Tōkai Kisen Co. July 2020 Active

Shanghai Simno Marine

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Built under license by Shanghai Simno Marine Ltd. CSSC, China

Hull Type Original name Original operator Delivery Disposition (2012) 2nd name 2nd operator
101 PS-30 Balsa Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong 1994 Scrapped in Sep 2020 - -
102 Praia 1995 Active KobeE Miraejet Co. Ltd.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Jetfoil/Hydrofoil". www.boeing.com. Boeing. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  2. ^ Lane, Polly (October 22, 1997). "Hydrofoil Comeback Proposed". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  3. ^ "Jetfoil Turns 30" (PDF). Classic Fast Ferries. No. 2. May–June 2004. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  4. ^ Brown, D K; Catchpole, J P; Shand, A M (1984). "The Evaluation Of The Hydrofoil HMS Speedy". Royal Institution of Naval Architects Transactions. 126. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. HMS SPEEDY was procured in 1979 to provide the Royal Navy with an opportunity to gain practical experience in the operation and support of a modern hydrofoil, to establish technical and performance characteristics, and to assess the capability of a hydrofoil in the UK 'Offshore Tapestry' role. The present paper describes the operational and technical evaluation of HMS SPEEDY undertaken in 1980-82, and outlines the results obtained.
  5. ^ "A History of Roll on". irishships.com. Archived from the original on 2006-03-19.
  6. ^ McClary, Daryl C. "Princess Marguerite I, II, and III: Three Historic Vessels". Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. Retrieved December 11, 2006.
  7. ^ "Estimates: Ministry of Transportation and Highways". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. July 3, 1980.
  8. ^ Lane, Polly (October 22, 1997). "Hydrofoil Comeback Proposed". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
Bibliography
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