Abstract: An air driven centrifuge including a rotor chamber having a rotor seat mounted in the bottom thereof and including a rotor having a plurality of turbine flutes formed in an under side thereof. The rotor seat includes driving air jet means for impinging pressurized air streams against the turbine flutes of the rotor for supporting and spinning the rotor on an air cushion above the rotor seat. Support air jet means are also provided in the seat for directing pressurized air streams against the under side of the rotor for supporting the rotor when the driving air jet streams are inactivated. A brake and stabilizing means is included for decelerating the spinning rotor and includes a friction bearing means on the bottom portion of the rotor and a stabilizer means movable into engagement with the bearing means and cooperating with the bearing means to produce a frictional load against the bearing means thereby causing the rotor to decelerate and also stabilizing the rotor as it slows to a stop.