Space Launchers
This device would be uniquely valuable as a space launcher because it would allow a vehicle to leave Earth and enter outer space without having to reach escape velocity, or even come anywhere near it. It could climb slowly into space. A payload the size of a road truck could be taken 200 miles upwards with similar motive power to that which the truck uses to take it 200 miles along the road, at a similar speed, and using a similar amount of fuel. The vastly reduced fuel requirement is the important point. This could reduce the cost per kilogram of launching a payload by a factor of about 100, and allow us to put very much larger and heavier things into space with comparitive ease. Such massive objects might be prefabricated buildings for Disneyland on the Moon and a reservoir of water to be used there.
Emergency Vehicles
Suitably equipped fire, police and ambulance service vehicles would be able to drive over traffic jams by floating over the traffic as they went along. A bladeless, land-anywhere helicopter.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I have no claim to be qualified to say that this is a viable scientific theory, beyond having done A level Physics and Degree level Electronics.
REFERENCES
My main inspiration for this was a British TV program, made by BBC Television,
London, UK, about the life and work of Prof. Eric Laithwaite. It was one
of a series about scientists, called "Heretics", and was shown on BBC2
in 1994.
You can hear this TV program in Sound only by clicking on the link
here, (needs Real Audio). Alternatively, use the other link to download
the Real Audio file to listen to later.
Heretics in Real Audio (30 minutes)