AES wrote:
If you tie a 100 foot rope to the tail of an airplane (or some other
part of the airframe), attach it to a good strong post, and run the
propellor up to whatever rpm is available, is anyone claiming the
airplane can then lift up say a feet off the ground?

(Assuming the tail doesn't tear off)

(and, a conveyor belt under the airplane is optional)

That completely changes the situation. The plane couldn't take off with a
regular runway if you secured it to a fixed post.

--

Darrell R. Schmidt
B-58 Hustler History: http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
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