Can a Plane on a Treadmill Take Off?

"cjcampbell" wrote in message
oups.com

Still, it seems counterintuitive to me that if a plane is
sitting on a conveyer that is moving backwards at exactly the same
speed (I assume they mean groundspeed here) as the airplane is moving
forward that the airplane will move forward at the same speed as if it
was not on a conveyer at all.

Why does the conveyor belt speed have anything to do with the airspeed of
the airplane?

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://spf.pobox.com
____________________

"cjcampbell" wrote in message

Still, it seems counterintuitive to me that if a plane is
sitting on a conveyer that is moving backwards at exactly the same
speed (I assume they mean groundspeed here) as the airplane is moving
forward that the airplane will move forward at the same speed as if it
was not on a conveyer at all.

Then you may not be ready for this:

http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/reese/monty/monty.htm

moo

Happy Dog wrote:
"cjcampbell" wrote in message

Still, it seems counterintuitive to me that if a plane is
sitting on a conveyer that is moving backwards at exactly the same
speed (I assume they mean groundspeed here) as the airplane is moving
forward that the airplane will move forward at the same speed as if it
was not on a conveyer at all.

Then you may not be ready for this:

http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/reese/monty/monty.htm


Now I have a headache. And they call me a troll and a Nazi. :-)

Now I have a headache. And they call me a troll and a Nazi. :-)

That's right, you troll posting, rat bast__d, head banging fascist!
Beginning a thread that *should* be able to be unraveled by a cross-eyed 6
year old, is evil, pure evil. I hope your head inflates to twice it's
normal size, before becoming pink mist! bfg

Well, at least the "pure evil" part is true!

This whole thing has been quite amazing. Who would'a thunk?
--
Jim in NC

CJ, please let us know when the light bulb finally goes on.

"cjcampbell" wrote

Still, it seems counterintuitive to me that if a plane is
sitting on a conveyer that is moving backwards at exactly the same
speed (I assume they mean groundspeed here) as the airplane is moving
forward that the airplane will move forward at the same speed as if it
was not on a conveyer at all.

Jon Woellhaf wrote:
CJ, please let us know when the light bulb finally goes on.


I am not a real fast learner, but I have some reputation, possibly
undeserved, for intelligence. The lightbulb will probably go on in the
middle of the night. Serves me right for even bringing it up. :-)

Jon Woellhaf wrote:
CJ, please let us know when the light bulb finally goes on.

"cjcampbell" wrote

Still, it seems counterintuitive to me that if a plane is
sitting on a conveyer that is moving backwards at exactly the same
speed (I assume they mean groundspeed here) as the airplane is moving
forward that the airplane will move forward at the same speed as if it
was not on a conveyer at all.

Okay, I see why the plane moves forward normally no matter how fast the
treadmill is going and even why it would not work in an automobile.

As for that Monty Hall thing, I see that it works, but I have not
figured out why it works yet.

There are certainly some strange things in the world.

176. cjcampbell
Feb 6, 9:41 pm show options

Newsgroups: rec.aviation.student, rec.aviation.piloting
From: "cjcampbell" - Find messages by
this author
Date: 6 Feb 2006 18:41:35 -0800
Local: Mon, Feb 6 2006 9:41 pm
Subject: Can a Plane on a Treadmill Take Off?
Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show
original | Report Abuse





"cjcampbell" wrote

Okay, I see why the plane moves forward normally no matter how fast the
treadmill is going and even why it would not work in an automobile.

Well, not exactly. This dead horse is fun to beat. Suppose I tell you
the car is going forward at 60 mph. That means the belt is going the
other way at 60, right? The speedometer would be indicating 120.

The OP said the belt is moving backward as fast as the whatever is
moving forward. When you substitute real numbers into the thing it
becomes more clear.

Or not.

Tony wrote:
176. cjcampbell
Feb 6, 9:41 pm show options

Newsgroups: rec.aviation.student, rec.aviation.piloting
From: "cjcampbell" - Find messages by
this author
Date: 6 Feb 2006 18:41:35 -0800
Local: Mon, Feb 6 2006 9:41 pm
Subject: Can a Plane on a Treadmill Take Off?
Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show
original | Report Abuse





"cjcampbell" wrote

Okay, I see why the plane moves forward normally no matter how fast the
treadmill is going and even why it would not work in an automobile.

Well, not exactly. This dead horse is fun to beat. Suppose I tell you
the car is going forward at 60 mph. That means the belt is going the
other way at 60, right? The speedometer would be indicating 120.

The OP said the belt is moving backward as fast as the whatever is
moving forward. When you substitute real numbers into the thing it
becomes more clear.

Or not.

Apparently not to everyone. :-)

The speedometer would indicate 60.

It WILL take off normally.
The propeller works in the air, not on the ground.
The only problem can be in the tires, that may blow up going twice as
fast as the normal takeoff speed, but i doubt that can happen.

It will surely take off, though.

Piero