Solid Sate Propulsion - Ionic Wind Craft

[Open_Window]

This is an interesting development at MIT flying a small ionic wind plane which reminds me of early videos from 2005 of Tim venture and his ionic lifters. I guess the simple difference here is the combination of the wing and utilising it’s principals of lift while getting the propoulsion form the ionic effect. Why did this take so long?

Inspired by Star Trek, researchers from MIT have successfully demonstrated that a plane can fly silently using ‘ionic wind,’ without needing any moving parts such as propellers, turbine blades, and fans. Read on for a video of it in-action and additional information.

‘Ionic wind’ is based on the principle that a wind is generated in the air between two electrodes when current passes between them. When enough voltage is applied, a thrust can be produced with the “ionic wind” to power a small plane without the need for any moving parts. The phenomenon was first identified in the 1920s, but it is only just been applied successfully in avionics.

The first aeroplane propelled by ionic wind - YouTube

thenextweb.com/tech/2018/11/22/ … parts/amp/

2005

Forbidden Science: Film-1 American AntiGravity

DIY Ionic Lifter.

How to Make/Build a Lifter or Ionocraft

Finally - Hats off to the Wright Brothers (when bicycles just weren’t good enough!)

[yoganmahew]

So if high voltage is required, could we see flying Tesla machines (powered by Tesla coils without landing) or planes flying into lightning storms for refueling?