Prop-Builder
Well-Known Member
I just got my hands on a 'kit' for a Ion Propelled Model UFO - Ionocraft! Most people won't be familiar with this propulsion system as it never really left the lab and used in any commercial aircraft for all to see.
It's actually a fairly old concept dating back to maybe the 60's. The main problem is that the propulsive force just isn't strong enough to lift the crafts power supply. The structure of the craft/model is incredibly lightweight and usually consists of foam and balsa wood. The parts contained in the kit make up a triangular cell structure in which a DC electrical charge is passed through to a wire attached to the top of the model and above a tin-foil 'skirt' to obtain lift. The triangular cell is very simple and can be repeated over and over to create larger models. As it requires no moving parts and is so cheap to make, there's really no limit to how large these models can go.
There is also a lot of room for shape design. I have seen circular, rectangular and even hexagon shapes of all sizes, so only the imagination is the limit. The most expensive part of equipment required would be the power supply. I bought the 'home-made' power system with my model, but I have seen a few individuals using old computer monitors to provide the neccessary power (monitor casings removed and re-wired of course).
So long as no one minds the power cable dangling form the ships hull, these models are a lot of fun and opens up the world of movie spaceship flying! I'm spoilt for choice thinking of all those possible Starwars spaceships, that could be made and flown using this technology. The only other snag however is that air needs to circulate through the crafts cells, so this would need to be taken into consideration when designing a ship to fly.
Also, due to the high power used, these should only be operated by a responsible adult as there's a high risk of an electrical shock if not handled carefully. The instructions I received included papers on Health & safety.
I will post my progress here on building a simple cell structure and will include pics and possibly a Youtube video clip showing the model in action!
It's actually a fairly old concept dating back to maybe the 60's. The main problem is that the propulsive force just isn't strong enough to lift the crafts power supply. The structure of the craft/model is incredibly lightweight and usually consists of foam and balsa wood. The parts contained in the kit make up a triangular cell structure in which a DC electrical charge is passed through to a wire attached to the top of the model and above a tin-foil 'skirt' to obtain lift. The triangular cell is very simple and can be repeated over and over to create larger models. As it requires no moving parts and is so cheap to make, there's really no limit to how large these models can go.
There is also a lot of room for shape design. I have seen circular, rectangular and even hexagon shapes of all sizes, so only the imagination is the limit. The most expensive part of equipment required would be the power supply. I bought the 'home-made' power system with my model, but I have seen a few individuals using old computer monitors to provide the neccessary power (monitor casings removed and re-wired of course).
So long as no one minds the power cable dangling form the ships hull, these models are a lot of fun and opens up the world of movie spaceship flying! I'm spoilt for choice thinking of all those possible Starwars spaceships, that could be made and flown using this technology. The only other snag however is that air needs to circulate through the crafts cells, so this would need to be taken into consideration when designing a ship to fly.
Also, due to the high power used, these should only be operated by a responsible adult as there's a high risk of an electrical shock if not handled carefully. The instructions I received included papers on Health & safety.
I will post my progress here on building a simple cell structure and will include pics and possibly a Youtube video clip showing the model in action!
Last edited:
