New lifter design in progress

[Sojourner]

Wow! Nice forum look!

Is anyone here done any work in lifter-technology-assisted aircraft? I am in the process of building one, but I would like to get some ideas for the best way to make a super-lightweight power supply.

I had seen some 1 Farad aerogel capacitors somewhere for sale for a dollar apiece and wondered if they would be better than batteries. They certainly would be lighter.

Also, I was thinking of a W-C multiplier set-up in lieu of a flyback. Can anyone tell me the pros/cons they have experienced with such things?

Thanks 

SOj

[PaulLowrance]

Yes.  I had great old fun building one.  They?re amazing!  I used an old TV which works great.  The bigger the TV the more voltage.  I had a somewhat small TV and I?d say it put out at least 30KV.  Be careful what ever you do!  They put out a lot of current for the voltage and can kill you in a heart beat!  That?s the only drawback, but I think the lifters require some good current.  Maybe a VanDergraph generator would work  Probably not enough current though.

Paul

[Sojourner]

I have several lifters. My planned one is autonomously powered and remote controlled. Finding a suitable inky-binky power supply though is difficult.

I HAVE one that I built from a schematic I got off the internet that uses batteries and a flyback, and it ALSO has two adjustable pots but unfortunatley I was sloppy in my work and it didn't work.

I bought the proper stuff this time for it to make a pc board for it, but, alas, I cannot find the schematic anywhere, even on the internet!

Soj

[PaulLowrance]

Do you have an idea how much weight it can lift?

Paul

[Sojourner]

The lifter? I have no idea how much payload it can take dead-on loaded, because there will be multiple non-powered technologies involved that will be used and the weight of the power/remote control system will play a large part of the size issue here.. The planned actual weight of the lifter itself  even with the power suppply will be negligable. It will barely stay grounded.

For a vertical take-off though, I doubt more than a few grams of payload unless it is countered with reverse ballasting. Then again, with angular take-off, who knows!

=)

Soj