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Originally Posted by '73 H1 Triple
3A) Since the brakes are not applied, the wheel are moving "backwards" at 60 mph. ( let's pretend somebody is at each wingtip holding the plane in place, only to prevent backwards movement ) The pilot applied throttle and the plane moves forward. Once he gets to 50 mph , the wheels are moving the equivilent 110 mph and the plane becomes airborne.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Homeslice
Actually I have full understanding of what causes lift. Airspeed over a wing surface. That's all. What a treadmill is or isn't doing doesn't mean jack shit.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by '73 H1 Triple
All the treadmill would do is spin the wheels. The only "extra" would be addition bearing RPM from the wheels being on the treadmill.
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Maybe your looking at this from a different prespective than I am. See the "Myth Busters" episode on this? That's what I "see". A normal plane and a movable "runway" under the wheels. The prop generates enough forward speed to achieve takeoff regardless of the wheel speed.
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You are both ignoring one of the central premises of the question, that the treadmill is able to prevent the forward motion you both know is required for flight. No the treadmill does not directly act on the source of the airplane's source of motive power, the propeller or jet. That doesn't mean the treadmill isn't creating friction/drag on the airplane. Maintain that part of the question and assume the treadmill can attain a sufficient speed so the friction/drag it imparts on the airplane through the tires, wheel bearings, etc. is enough to counteract the effect of the propeller or jet and keep the aircraft from moving. If that is the case, and the air remains still, then the airplane will not take off.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Turbo Ghost
The speed of the wheels is irrelevant.
The whole problem with this entire scenario is the fact the wheels are not driven. Since the prop acts upon air and not the treadmill itself, there is no way to make it work.
As I said before, the purpose of a treadmill is to allow you to remain motionless relative to your surroundings. A motionless plane will not lift.
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Making it work is why it is a bullshit question. The treadmill would need to be rotating at hundreds, if not thousands, of mph in order to generate enough friction to counteract the effect of the propeller or jet to prevent motion. Even if that could be done the tires would explode or the wheel bearings would melt in very short order likely resulting in a spectacular crash.
Physically possible? Probably not. If we ignore that and accept the premise of the question though, the airplane will not take off.