“Years ago, while trying to eliminate some of the hazards of aviation resulting from that menace of the air commonly called ‘Air Pockets,’ I made the discovery that this mysterious vacuum existing in midair was caused by electrical disturbances very similar to lightning and the static that causes so much trouble in radio reception. After several experiments, I learned that I could make artificial air pockets and maintain them under any conditions but I also discovered that for every area of vacuum or decreased pressure, an equal area of high pressure was formed. Later experiments taught me how to destroy my air pocket and high pressure area by letting the excess air in the high pressure zone rush toward the low pressure zone.

It was several years before a device was produced that would constantly create the high and low pressure zones and let the excess air from the high pressure area flow constantly toward the low. There was another long delay before I learned how to control the intensity of the high and low areas and the force of the air passing from one to the other....

('Around the World in 24 Hours' by RH Romans)

“This is my third Minute Man, the result of eight years of experiments. Those two bright spheres on what have humorously been called antennae produce a vacuum, the intensity of which is regulated by the current passing through it from my batteries. The larger sphere at the rudder produces the high pressure zone. With a vacuum in front of me and double pressure behind, my speed is fabulous and regardless of the speed, the pilot has no sensation of passing through a strong wind, because the air surrounding the car is moving at the same speed as the ship itself. I have attained a speed of forty miles per minute — 2400 miles per hour — but that speed is not only unpleasant but unnecessary and dangerous, due to the effects on the pilot from rapidly accelerating or decelerating the speed.