A new method, to obtain skin friction reduction by installing airbearing channels on a smooth surface in uniform flow was investigated. The measurements were made by a servo-controlled skin friction balance. The parametric studies of the channel having step dimensions less than the laminar sublayer thicknesses and placed in flows of free stream velocity up to 90 ft/s have shown that an average skin friction reduction of 25% in the air-bearing cavity is weIl within reach. It was also confirmed that riblet-type surf ace grooves can produce up to 10% skin friction drag reduction.