Engineers at MIT fly first plane with no moving parts

The video explains a glider weighing 2 kilograms with a 5-meter wingspan that uses ion propulsion. It has two rows of wires under its wings, with the front row carrying positively charged ions and the back row carrying a negative charge. This setup creates ionic wind, generating thrust to propel the glider forward. The glider was tested indoors, achieving a 60-meter flight, marking the first solid-state flight without moving parts, as published in the journal Nature.

What is the wingspan of the glider?

• 3 meters

• 4 meters

• 6 meters

• 5 meters

What charge does the back row of wires carry?

• Positive charge

• Negative charge

• Neutral charge

• No charge

What is the term used for the air pushed behind the glider?

• Propeller wash

• Jet stream

• Ionic wind

• Thermal draft

Where was the glider tested for its flight?

• On a runway

• In a wind tunnel

• Inside a gym

• In an open field

What is significant about the glider's flight?

• It was the first flight using solar power

• It was the first solid-state flight without moving parts

• It was the longest flight recorded

• It was the fastest flight recorded