First flight of aircraft with ion drive

A team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have successfully flown the first aircraft with no moving parts. The model plane uses “ionic wind” propulsion that creates no emissions

HOW PLANE FLIES: Scientists used bungee cords to launch aircraft, with ionic wind technology powering rest of flight

Research Ten test flights made inside MIT sports hall, each flight covering about 55m

Positive electrode Series of thin wires strung beneath wing

Electrical power Stack of lithium-polymer batteries supply 40,000 volts via lightweight power converter

Wingspan: 5m
Aircraft weight: 2.45kg 
Speed: 4.8m per second

Negative electrode Thin airfoil towards back of wing

1 Wires charged to 20,000 volts, spurring atmospheric nitrogen molecules to lose electrons and become positively charged

2 Nitrogen ions moving between electrodes collide millions of times with neutral air molecules, transferring energy to them
                
Wire
Airfoil
Positive nitrogen ion
Neutral air molecule
Electric field
Aircraft movement 
Ionic wind

Airfoil, which is negatively charged to 20,000 volts, attracts positive nitrogen ions

Neutral air molecules stream out behind plane, generating thrust that creates forward flight


Sources: Associated Press, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) © GRAPHIC NEWS