[jlogajan]

It is ionic wind. Once you approach a voltage gradient of about 20,000 volts per inch, air molecules start ionizing. You can put "pin points" on one side of a charged grid. The charged grid has a slightly lower gradient, so it doesn't ionize air molecules. The pin points do ionize the air around them. Once ionized, they are either repelled or attracted to the grid depending upon the charge. This creates a wind, or in rocket terms, a reaction mass. It is just like rocket exhaust. It heads one way and the "craft" moves the other way.

[spoiler2]

Trouble is, once you get the generator of the 20,000 volts onboard the craft, it won't be able to overcome the weight of the mechanism.

'Lifters' won't be going anywhere, unless they can go beyond the length of umbilical wiring they presently use.