![A plane is propelled via ionic wind. Batteries in the fuselage (tan compartment on front) supply voltage to electrodes (blue/white horizontal lines), generating a wind of ions that propels the plane forward. Photo: Christine Y. He](/sites/default/files/styles/ifde_hero/public/news/image/2018-11/MIT-Motorless-Plane-01_0.jpg?h=4fb53298&itok=f4UZcSzQ)
MIT engineers fly first-ever plane with no moving parts
The silent, lightweight aircraft doesn’t depend on fossil fuels.
MIT engineers have built and flown the first-ever plane with no moving parts. Instead of propellers or turbines, the light aircraft is powered by an “ionic wind” — a silent but mighty flow of ions that is produced aboard the plane, and that generates enough thrust to propel the plane over a sustained, steady flight.
Unlike turbine-powered planes, the aircraft does not depend on fossil fuels to fly. And unlike propeller-driven drones, the new design is completely silent.
The team included Lincoln Laboratory staff Thomas Sebastian and Mark Woolston.
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