Quote:
Originally Posted by Homeslice
If the question is would a plane take off without its engine running, if the treadmill had brought it up to a sufficient speed? The answer is yes, since airspeed is the only thing required to generate lift. However, as soon as the plane starts to lift off the treadmill, it would glide back down, and actually fall back a bit, because the treadmill was the only thing giving it its forward momentum.
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Unfortunately that isn't the question. The question comes from the following scenario. A plane is on a "treadmill" trying to take off. This theoretical treadmill accelerates to match the speed of the airplane with the result being the groundspeed of the airplane is 0mph. Will the airplane take off? It is a bullshit question.