Can A Plane Take Off On A Treadmill?
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From: Orlando
Originally Posted by Neutered Sputniks,Feb 10 2008, 07:38 PM
If the treadmill is rotating -------> at 10mph
and the wheels of the airplane are rotating <------ at 10mph
The airplane remains stationary (ground speed 0mph), so, no lift is created.
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Originally Posted by SheDrivesIt,Feb 10 2008, 09:56 PM
It is a function of air speed over the wings. Ground speed is theoretically irrelevant. Obviously a plane with a prop or props that are forward of the wings generates SOME lift. Is it enough to allow the aircraft to take off? Typically it is not but it it at least theoretically possible. A jet aircraft creates no lift at all in this way.
In either case it is strictly a function of air speed over the wings. Ground speed is not a factor. For example, say a plane needs 80 knots of air speed to lift off. If it attains a ground speed of 30 knots into a 50 knot head wind, it will lift off. The thrust generation of the aircraft whether it is a jet or prop plane works against the air, not the ground.
In either case it is strictly a function of air speed over the wings. Ground speed is not a factor. For example, say a plane needs 80 knots of air speed to lift off. If it attains a ground speed of 30 knots into a 50 knot head wind, it will lift off. The thrust generation of the aircraft whether it is a jet or prop plane works against the air, not the ground.
Ground speed generates air speed. Inside, where there is no air speed, without ground speed to generate the air speed, there is not enough lift for the airplane to fly.
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From: Winnipeg, MB
Originally Posted by Neutered Sputniks,Feb 10 2008, 08:43 PM
True, but unless you're trying this outside, there would be little to no air speed
Ground speed generates air speed. Inside, where there is no air speed, without ground speed to generate the air speed, there is not enough lift for the airplane to fly.
Ground speed generates air speed. Inside, where there is no air speed, without ground speed to generate the air speed, there is not enough lift for the airplane to fly.
If I had a submersible jet ski with wheels and it was inside a building filled with water sitting on a treadmill, would it be able to move around inside the building even though I had the treadmill moving opposite to the direction of the jet ski?
Is the treadmill going to stop the jet ski just because it has wheels on it? Do you see why all of the arguments in this thread stating that a plane will not be able to take off on a treadmill are absurd?
Why are air and airplanes such a mystery to people? I suspect if you replace air with water, people will understand it a little better.
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From: Hollywood
Originally Posted by Neutered Sputniks,Feb 10 2008, 02:39 AM
If you set an airplane on a treadmill and adjust the treadmill to 10MPH and feather the airplane's engine to only provide enough thrust to move it's wheels at 10MPH, it won't take off as the ground speed of the aircraft is 0 knots and no lift will be produced.
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From: Tampa Florida
Originally Posted by SheDrivesIt,Feb 10 2008, 09:56 PM
In either case it is strictly a function of air speed over the wings. Ground speed is not a factor. For example, say a plane needs 80 knots of air speed to lift off. If it attains a ground speed of 30 knots into a 50 knot head wind, it will lift off. The thrust generation of the aircraft whether it is a jet or prop plane works against the air, not the ground.
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From: Tampa Florida
Originally Posted by KerryF,Feb 11 2008, 01:06 AM
Your buildings have no air in them?
If I had a submersible jet ski with wheels and it was inside a building filled with water sitting on a treadmill, would it be able to move around inside the building even though I had the treadmill moving opposite to the direction of the jet ski?
Is the treadmill going to stop the jet ski just because it has wheels on it? Do you see why all of the arguments in this thread stating that a plane will not be able to take off on a treadmill are absurd?
Why are air and airplanes such a mystery to people? I suspect if you replace air with water, people will understand it a little better.
If I had a submersible jet ski with wheels and it was inside a building filled with water sitting on a treadmill, would it be able to move around inside the building even though I had the treadmill moving opposite to the direction of the jet ski?
Is the treadmill going to stop the jet ski just because it has wheels on it? Do you see why all of the arguments in this thread stating that a plane will not be able to take off on a treadmill are absurd?
Why are air and airplanes such a mystery to people? I suspect if you replace air with water, people will understand it a little better.
I cannot even visualize that right now to see your point. 
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From: Tampa Florida
Originally Posted by NFRs2000NYC,Feb 10 2008, 07:56 PM
The engines are moving air over the wings. When a propeller is spinning, it is pushing air over the wings, regardless of the planes motion.
