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. ‘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. In the…

This story continues at The Next Web