jet can be directed to land first on the backing fabric 3 the backing fabric 3 shown in these figures as the second fabric is guided by forming roll 6 so that it is brought into contact with the stock layer being formed on conveying fabric 2 as it passes over first drainage shoe 7 the backing fabric 3 serves to sandwich the stock layer between it and the conveying fabric 2 so as to minimize any undesirable two sidedness characteristics in the embryonic sheet the stock layer commences initial drainage as it passes over first drainage shoe 7 by virtue of the flow through slots or holes not shown through the shoe a second drainage shoe 8 is located immediately downstream of drainage shoe 7 and is separated from it by a small distance the distance between the first drainage shoe 7 and the second drainage shoe 8 will be dictated by papermaking requirements as well as available space and geometry in the forming section but in most cases in this configuration this distance will be from about 1 to 12 inches 25 300 mm drainage shoe 8 will be located relative to drainage shoe 7 such that there is either a wrapped edge between them i e.