This wing, though, is not a traditional foil shape typically found on aircraft. It uses the Magnus effect to generate lift. Briefly, the Magnus effect is when lift is generated from a spinning object ...

Whomsley’s aircraft features two large spinning cylinders mounted on either side of the fuselage. Unlike typical R/C planes with fixed wings, this design relies entirely on the Magnus effect for lift.

Ars Technica has been separating the signal from the noise for over 25 years. With our unique combination of technical savvy and wide-ranging interest in the technological arts and sciences, Ars is ...