Will it fly?

[Rock-climby-Dave]

simple:

Will a plane, stationary on a treadmill be able to take off if the treadmill rotates backwards at the EXACT same speed that the plane's wheels move forwards?

Rules, so we are all on the same page:

Plane is powered by 2 jets mounted at the back of the plane (see DC-9 or the A-10 thunderbolt)

same setup as 'mythbusters' but with an infinately looping treadmill

My answer will be posted a few posts in

Discussion is obviously allowed, but try and keep it civilised

 

[JerseyRider]

Well no

Due to the plane beeing stationray there is no air going over the wings and therefore not creating any lift... all its doing is spinning its wheels...

 

[Nex]

Yes it will fly.

A plane flies regardless of surface interaction. The plane does not move by exerting force on the ground like a car does. The plane uses thrust applied to the air. The plane MUST move relative to the ground to be able to create lift and then fly but since the plane does not rely on surface interaction to achieve its momentum, sticking it on a treadmill will not keep it from flying.

 

[Rock-climby-Dave]

ah yes, correct, the wheels do not power the plane

but as the jets try to propel the plane forwards on the belt, the wheels turn faster and faster, matching the speed of the belt constantly, both wheels and belt accelerate.

when a plane tries to accelerate the thrust pushes the plane along the ground untill a minimum takeoff speed is reached (use 200Km/h in this example)

however, the plane cannot accelerate in relation to the ground due to the conveyor, thus the plane has no airflow over the wings, means no lower pressure above the wing and this gives no lift. no lift, no flight.

 

[JerseyRider]

Yay