First 'soundless' aeroplane takes flight

Imagine an aircraft that is almost completely silent, powered by an engine with no moving parts. Such apparent science fiction became a reality when, in November 2018, scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) flew the first ever 'ion drive' aeroplane. This was the first sustained flight of an aeroplane propelled by electro-aerodynamic propulsion, by many definitions, the first ever solid-state flight (meaning no moving parts). The craft, with a wingspan of five metres and weighing less than 2.5 kg, flew 60 metres in 10 seconds. The paper discusses the principles behind the operation of the vehicle and the possibilities for its use as a drone.