MIT researchers have created and flown the first plane that doesn’t require any moving parts, potentially heralding the arrival of quieter, lower-emission aircraft.

Ground-breaking: The team managed to fly an experimental aircraft for 60 meters using electricity directly—rather than turbine blades. If scaled up, this technology would produce aircraft that are much safer, quieter and easier to maintain. Most importantly, it would eliminate combustion emissions, since the process is powered entirely by battery.

How does it work? The flight was made possible by a process called electroaerodynamic propulsion, which takes advantage of what’s known as ionic wind. It uses very high voltages—in the plane’s case, 40,000 volts—to generate ions in the air around two electrodes. The ions collide with normal air molecules while traveling, creating the ionic wind and pushing the plane forward. Bladeless desktop fans use the same concept.

Some caveats: The potential for this technology is huge, but it’s worth remembering the test plane can barely keep itself in the air, let alone cargo. It’s taken the researchers nine years to reach even this early point, so there’s a long way to go before your LA-to-New York trip can be done without moving part