Irlandes, so how does he explain that light is part of the electro magnetic spectrum in which every other type of energy travels in waves with another (magnetic) wave at 90 degrees to it? Maybe I should just read his book.....hmmmmm maybe not, my brain gets fried just trying to decide what to have for breakfast without trying to cogitate over the meaning of the universe!
DJ - surely the thrust IGE or OGE is the same - ie it balances the weight of the aircraft in order for it to hover. The difference is how much work the rotor has to do to produce that thrust.
As for the space shuttle in a vacuum - I will refer my learned friend to the end of the previous paragraph