Abstract: A cylinder dryer for drying wet paper sheet material comprises a plurality of heated cylinders arranged at two levels, the wet paper sheet during the drying process travelling in loops up and down around the cylinders. At least some of the cylinders are provided with hoods, the hoods of at least the upper level heated cylinders having extended wing members which have surfaces facing the wet sheet which project substantially parallel and in close proximity to the portions of the wet sheet that travel unsupported between alternate heated cylinders. The surfaces of the extended wing members have orifices for blowing streams of hot air substantially parallel to the sheet in and opposite to its direction of travel for stabilizing the sheet. The hood, in portions other than the extended wing portions, has orifices for blowing air toward the sheet for drying same.