(Edward A. Falk) wrote in news:fo899k$kre$1
@blue.rahul.net:

In article ,
NEWS theducksmail"AT"yahoo.com wrote:

This whole thing is done and over the Mythbusters busted the myth that it
wouldn't take off, can we PLEASE let it die!

Actually, PeeCeeElf was correct; they didn't do the experiment right.
The puzzle assumes some sort of feedback mechanism to keep the belt
moving exactly at the opposite speed as the airplane. The mythbusters
guys didn't do that.

However, Cecil Adams is also right; it's not possible. Doing the test
right assumes that you believe in A = A + 5.

The puzzle also assumes that the wheels are what drive the plane on the
ground. The speed that the wheels rotate on the conveyor belt is irrelevant
relative to the motion of the plane caused by the thrust of the engine on the
ground (or conveyor).