MIT Engineers Create Silent, Futuristic Aircraft Powered By Ionic Wind

MIT engineers have created the first aircraft that is capable of flying despite not having any moving parts. Rather than using fossil fuels, the new aircraft is powered by ionic wind, according to the institute, which says the vehicle is completely silent and lightweight. Unlike planes and drones, this aircraft doesn't produce any emissions.

Modern planes feature propellers, fans, and other moving parts, but humanity is already dreaming about what the future may hold. Science fiction is full of planes that seemingly operate on thin air, lifting silently into the sky with no visible means for travel. Engineers with MIT may have paved the way that that eventual reality.

The institute has detailed the successful flight of an ion-powered aircraft that is capable of traveling through the air without using moving parts. The team demonstrates the brief flights of small, lightweight prototypes featuring this technology in the video above.

The project's foundation, ionic wind, was first identified back in the 1920s; it results in a thrust when current is passed between thin and thick electrodes. Assuming the aircraft features a high enough voltage, the vehicle could be propelled through the air using ionic wind.

Though the idea is not new, past efforts to create an ion-powered aircraft have been limited by the need for high voltages and very small plane sizes. A team of experts at MIT came up with a solution, ultimately designing an aircraft that looks similar to a glider, and that weighs only around 5lbs despite having a nearly 16.5ft wingspan.

Though we're no doubt many years away from seeing this type of technology transport large planes full of people, there could be more immediate uses for ionic wind-powered aircraft. The silent operation makes this an attractive alternative to existing drones, which are noisy and expected to grow in demand across many industries.