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Scientists built first-ever silent airplane with no moving propellers

Published on November 26, 2018
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US have built and flown the first-ever silent airplane with no moving propellers or jet turbines.
Scientists built first-ever silent airplane with no moving propellers
  • At present, every aircraft have moving parts such as propellers, turbine blades and fans, which are powered by the combustion of fossil fuels or by battery packs that produce a persistent, whining buzz.

Details:

  • MIT researchers have designed this lightweight plane weighing about five pounds with five-meter wingspan.
  • It was flown at a distance of 60 meters, a feat that was repeated 10 times.
  • It was the simplest possible plane design that could prove the concept that an ion plane could fly.
  • It is the first-ever plane having no moving parts in the propulsion system.
  • This new light aircraft does not carry propellers or turbines and also doesn't depend on fossil fuels to fly.
  • It is inspired from movie and television series "Star Trek".
  • It is powered by ionic wind or electrodynamic thrust, a silent but mighty flow of ions that is produced aboard plane.
  • It can generate enough thrust to propel the plane over sustained, steady flight.
  • Unlike propeller-driven planes, the new design is completely silent.

What is the significance of this airplane?

  • It has potentially opened new and unexplored possibilities for aircrafts which are quieter, mechanically simpler and do not emit combustion emissions.
  • In the near-term, such ion wind propulsion systems could be used to fly less noisy drones.
  • Moreover, ion propulsion paired with more conventional combustion systems can create more fuel-efficient, hybrid passenger planes and other large aircrafts in the future.

Question:

Q. Scientists from which educational institution in the US have built and flown the first-ever silent airplane with no moving propellers or jet turbines?
a. Harvard University
b. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
c. Stanford University
d. None of the above

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