The Boeing 929 Jetfoil is a passenger-carrying, waterjet-propelled hydrofoil by Boeing.
Boeing adapted many systems used in jet aircraft 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 United States 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.
History 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. 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.
In 1980, B&I Line introduced a Jetfoil service from Dublin to Liverpool with the Jetfoil Cú Na Mara (). The service was not a success and was discontinued at the end of the 1981 season.
The Belgian Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT) operated the Jetfoils Princesse Clementine and Prinses Stephanie on the Ostend to Dover 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. 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.
In June 2029, after a break of eight years, one is scheduled be delivered to Kyushu Corporation for use on the Hakata to Iki Island and Tsushima Island service.Still life in the old design Ships Monthly February 2026 page 11
Vessels
Boeing Marine Systems 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, and scrapped in 2026 No. 3 Kamehameha Seaflite Pacific Sea Trsp. Mar 1975 1978 Corvo Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Hijet Hijet Ferry / Miraejet Co. Ltd. Inactive No. 4 Kuhio Seaflite Pacific Sea Trsp. Sep 1975 1978 Pico Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong Retired in 2018 and scrapped in 2021 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 Scrapped in 2025 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 - Inactive 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. Inactive 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 Scrapped in 2025 No. 14 Royal Navy Jan 1979 1982 Speedy Princess - LilauFar 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 Scrapped in 2025 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 Inactive 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. Inactive 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 Scrapped in 2025 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 Marineuncompleted 1985 Laid-up in Surabaya shipyard No. 28 Bima Samudera V Indonesian Marine
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Built under license by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe, Japan Hull Type Original name Original operator Delivery Disposition (2012) 2nd name 2nd operator 3rd Name 3rd operatorNo. 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 1989Active 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 1990Active Beetle 1 JR Kyushu Jet Ferries 2026 Ocean Jet (Tsumugi) Kumejima OceanjetNo. 6 Beetle JR Kyushu Jet Ferries Jul 1990 Active Rocket Cosmo Line Rocket 3 Tane Yaku JetfoilsNo. 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 (Transferred 2024) Kyushu Yusen 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 KisenNo. 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 JetfoilNo. 16 Seven Island Yui Tōkai Kisen Co.July 2020 Active No. 17 TBD Kyushu YusenJune 2029 Under construction
Shanghai Simno Marine Built under license by Shanghai Simno Marine Ltd. CSSC, China Hull Type Original name Original operator Delivery Disposition (2012) 2nd name 2nd operator101 PS-30 Balsa Far East Hydrofoil / TurboJET Hong Kong 1994 Scrapped in Sep 2020 - -102 Praia 1995 Active KobeE Miraejet Co. Ltd.
See also Boeing hydrofoils Pegasus-class hydrofoil
References
Bibliography
External links
Kawasaki Jetfoil homepage Boeing history page JETFOIL Historical Snapshot.