Researchers at MIT have run experiments and found that ionic thrusters may be a far more efficient source of propulsion than conventional jet engines. In their experiments, they found that ionic wind -- or electrohydrodynamic thrust for those who are more scientific -- produces 110 newtons of thrust per kilowatt, compared with a jet engine’s 2 newtons per kilowatt, according to MIT.
Ionic wind may be used as a propulsion system for small, lightweight aircraft, says Steven Barrett, an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT.
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