Demystifying Lifters: Electro-Mechanical Effects Explained

[japam]

hello all

first time i see a lifter flying was astouning for me, and also the explanations of ionizing air ,antigravity , electrogravity etc..
but thinking best now i think this is purely an electromechanical effect
i mean
the wire and aluminum foil have the same charge ( but opposed ) , hence both attracts each other electrostatically with the same magnitude
what cause the thrust is THE DIFFERNET WAY the force is applied to the wood armature
because the wire apply its force only in 2 points, that is, at its edges
while the aluminum foil apply its force over its support that is over its complete length
i think this hypotese can be refuteable, even without an hv source
and its the simplest of all theories

ysq

 

[sigma]

Do you accelerate faster if you hold on to the train with both your hands instead of just one hand? No.

 

[alpha_wolf]

Care to post a picture/link/something so that the less enlightened among us have a clue what you're talking about?

 

[brewnog]

And please don't say 'antigravity', that makes me think of helicopters, and aeroplanes.

A Boeing 737, an antigravity device? Bring it on.

 

[Gonzolo]

Anything on the subject seems to be commercial, so I tend to keep away. Someone let me know when an unbiased, non-commercial, recognized viewpoint is available.

 

[ceptimus]

What I've seen of them, I would characterise them as 'fans without any moving parts'.

They ionise the air with a high voltage, then use an electric field to accelerate the air downwards. This makes them lift. They are usually light wooden, wire and foil structures. The power is supplied along a cable. I never saw one of them powerful enough to lift its own batteries or other power source.

There is usually a lot of hype about 'anti-gravity' or 'space drive' surrounding these things. It only takes someone to demonstrate one working in a vacuum, and scientists might begin to believe. Unless and until that happens, most 'lifter' fans will continue to be regarded as cranks.

 

[NateTG]

Care to post a picture/link/something so that the less enlightened among us have a clue what you're talking about?

http://jnaudin.free.fr/lifters/main.htm

Has pictures.

General consensus is that they work based on ion wind (or possibly polarized wind) propulsion.