Aircraft Anti-Icing Systems Utilizing Induced Hydrophobicity

Aircraft anti-icing systems of a proposed type would utilize static electric fields to reduce or eliminate the electrostatic forces that bond ice and water to metal surfaces. These would be lightweight, low-power-consumption, inexpensive systems that would be installed on the surfaces of wings and other critical airfoils. These systems would not intrude significantly into the interiors of airfoils; they would also not protrude from airfoil surfaces and thus would not disturb aerodynamics.