L. A vehicle adapted to translate in proximity to the earth''s surface having in combination: A. A FAIRED STREAMLINED BODY HAVING A LEADING EDGE AND A TRAILING EDGE, AND BEING DISPOSED ABOUT A CAMBERED MEAN LINE EXTENDING FROM SAID LEADING EDGE TO SAID TRAILING EDGE, THE BOTTOM OF SAID BODY HAVING A SLOPE IN SAID LEADING EDGE NOT EXCEEDING 10* AND FORMING A DIFFUSER SECTION TO PROVIDE A PRESSURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER SURFACE OF SAID BODY DURING TRANSLATION OF SAID BODY THEREBY PRODUCING AERODYNAMIC LIFT; B. MEANS ALONG THE SIDES OF SAID BODY AND DEFINING TWO DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED SLOTS TO PRODUCE DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED JETS; AND C. MEANS FOR DELIVERING AIR TO SAID SLOT DEFINING MEANS BOTH DURING HOVERING AND TRANSLATION, TO DISCHARGE AIR THROUGH SAID SLOTS THEREBY PRODUCING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING AIR JET CURTAINS AT THE SIDES OF SAID BODY AND OF SAID DIFFUSER SECTION PERMITTING LIFT PRODUCING FLOW INTO SAID DIFFUSER SECTION FROM SAID LEADING EDGE AND TO BE DISCHARGED FROM UNDERNEATH SAID TRAILING EDGE.