Abstract: A vehicle riding on air cushions in which the lift of a platform is ensured by an arrangement of flexible skirts defining a central air-lift area at substantially constant pressure and a partitioned peripheral air-lift area. A closed loop of adjacent tubular skirts is inserted between the central and peripheral air-lift areas to increase the flying stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air-lift vehicle has inner and outer multi-lobed peripheral skirts arranged so that the corresponding lobes of the skirts are in register. Means is provided to supply compressed air to the inside of the inner skirt and between the inner and outer skirts for lifting purposes. The space between the skirts comprises a plurality of compartments each defined by two corresponding lobes of the inner and outer skirts. The lower edges of the lobes of the outer skirt at least are located in the same horizontal plane as a result of which the height of lift and the stability of the vehicle are improved.