("Peter Duniho" wrote)
While I haven't bothered to calculate what these increases would be, it
seems safe to say that it's *possible* they would rise fast enough to
offset the available thrust before reaching the speed of light.

Basically, in an arm-chair, lay-person discussion like this, practically
*anything* is possible as you approach the speed of light. So why not
just invoke that, and ignore the details?


Let's take this away from the light...

For the plane NOT to take off - the plane must have zero forward
movement/airspeed. According to the OP rules, in that state the belt is
stationary.

If the prop is pulling at the plane to go forward, the belt can keep up
(debate-debate-debate) causing the plane not to make any headway. Again,
in-that-state, the belt must (now) stop because it only travels backward at
the same speed as the plane moves forward - but the plane is still pulling
forward ...against a (now) stationary belt.

I'm (now) officially confused.


Montblack
http://www.artfinale.com/store/sku_pgs/E06BT.php
Taking steps to get the right answer.