Lifter 1b - Single triangle, 130mm edge length lifter (October 14, 2001)

This device was a successful attempt to create a larger and more stable lifter than my first one. I started out building one according to the directions on Jean-Louis Naudin's website but either my power supply was not strong enough to cause it to lift or the top edge of the foil electrode leaked too much. In either case, I decided to make a smaller one with a lighter frame design.

In this device there are no balsa wood cross members on the bottom of the foils. This is the same way that my lifter 1a was built. Also, the top edge of each foil is wrapped around its cross member and glued back onto itself. This means that there is no sharp foil edge that is on its own, thereby eliminating one source of leakage. To reduce leakage further, the foil is all one piece instead of being made of three individual pieces.

Another enhancement in this design is that the wire height is easily adjustable. At each vertex the wire is hot-glued to a small plastic cylinder. This cylinder, makes a snug fit with the supporting poles but is still easy to slide up and down.

Lifter 1b - Side view

Lifter 1b - Top view

Test flight - Picture 1

Test flight - Picture 2

Test flight - Picture 3