New idea for making more powerful lifters

[Blainiac]

I've build a couple lifters but don't have the HV flyback transformers anymore from the old TVs anymore.  From what I understand, electrons are sucked away from atmospheric molecules from the electric potential, creating ions.  The ions are accelerated towards the collector foil, regaining the electrons and bumping into neutral air on the way, creating thrust.

Now, there is an electric field between the anode and cathode.  the equation to measure thrust from a lifter was F = Id/k, where F is thrust in Newtons, I is current, d is distance between wires in meters, and k is the ion coefficient for the medium (air).  So basically, if you can increase either I or d (d could basically be voltage, since to increase distance you'd have to increase voltage).  We don't want to do that because we would need crazy amounts of electricity to make a powerful lifter, right?

So, I was thinking of ways to manipulate the ions once they're created.  The power source would dictate how many ions are created, but it doesn't have to be the only thing that moves them once they're made.  Since there is an electric field between the two wires that dictates where the ions want to go and how far they can go (because you'd need a higher voltage to get past the high resistance in air), you'd need to alter this electric field.

There is a principle called the Superposition Principle.  Basically, if you have two vector fields, the actual resultant field is the sum of the vector fields.  What makes a crazy high electric field?  A Van de Graaff machine does.

I was thinking of testing if a HV external field could alter the length and thrust of a lifter, because the huge + field from the Van de Graaff would push the + ions way more effectively than the potential between the wires alone.  The Van de Graaff would have to be far enough away from the collector so it won't short out.  The Van de Graaff machine would have to have a positive field on the sphere, near the corona (positive too) wire.  Since the machine only alters the field between the wires and not actually creating the ions, it'd be a free way to increase thrust proportional to the voltage of the machine.  What do you guys think?  You wouldn't be attaching the Van de Graaff machine to the lifter or test wires, just have it very near to create a distorted electric field.

[triffid]

I bought a stungun that delivers 8 million volts,its rechargeable,you plug it into a wall socket.It weighs less than 4.5 ounces.With a few modications it could be a power source for a lifter.Cost me 26 dollars postage and handling included.triffid