The impulse swirl meter is a tool used on a cylinder head flow-bench to quantify cylindrically swirling intake air motion. Used predominantly in the optimization of diesel engine intake port design, the swirl meter is a very important tool. Suffering from stiction and brinelling of the delicate ball bearings, I designed a hydrostatic air-bearing and a viscous vane damper. I machined the system and it was frictionless and functioned perfectly.