This device employs 2 grids of fine wire electically isolated from one
another and held about 2 inches apart. The bottom grid is 'grounded' while
the top grid is connected to a high voltage D.C. supply in excess of 25 KV.
Ions are generated by the top grid and are accellerated down toward the
bottom grid. Along the way these ions bump into air molecules and create a
downdraft. The whole structure must be constructed to be as light as
possible and it is fiddly to get the wire size/spacing/voltage just right.
I've built a few of these in the past with limited success (I had one that
flew). You'll probably find that these plans won't provide much more info
than that contained in the patents issued on these devices. Have to love
the web page hype - 'antigravity plans', 'hyperdrive plans', etc, etc. I
wonder if these folks would class a bird as an 'antigravity device' ...<g>.
There was much talk about this system of propulsion years ago. Nothing
seems to have come of it.
Regards, Bill.
At 21:18 25/08/98 -0500, donadams wrote:
>this device really has me intrigued... did you know about the following?
>--------------
>Easy to build plans show how to construct an Ionocraft propelled by
>electrostatic wind. Larger versions could exceed the efficiency of
>modern helicopters, and by scaling up the design, a one man saucer can
>be built.