Ionic propulsion system

An ionic propulsion system for an aircraft having an airfoil, the airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge and an end extending between the leading edge and trailing edge, the aircraft having at least one of flaps or slats, the system comprising:

• a first conductor;
• a second conductor;
• said first conductor and said second conductor being disposed substantially within the airfoil when not in use;
• an actuator for extending and retracting said first conductor and said second conductor from the end of the airfoil such that said first conductor and said second conductor are in the airstream of the aircraft, said first conductor being upstream of said second conductor in the airstream, wherein said actuator is configured to extend said first conductor and said second conductor when the aircrafts speed is approaching or within Mach range, and wherein said actuator is configured to retract said first conductor and second conductor when the at least one of the flaps or slats are deployed;
• and
• a power supply for supplying current to said first conductor and said second conductor to ionize the air particles in a vicinity of said first conductor and said end of the airfoil to create a flow of the ionized particles from said first conductor toward said second conductor.