I suppose I should have made that more clear in my original post.

 

At least you've convinced yourself that you were right.

 

Okay, sounds like you're saying you agree with us, but the way you're expressing it really throws me for a loop. So if you don't mind, I offer up one final question to you - given a plane that can take off on its own on a regular runway, does it have the ability to takeoff when on a treadmill no matter what the treadmill does?

Or do you believe that there's something the treadmill can do that will actively PREVENT the plane from taking off?

 

You're back peddling now, I'd guess you asked one of the engineers and they confirmed what people were telling you.

You stated: "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."

Clearly you state more than just the wheels, because you mention the engines providing the forward motion, or moving the plane.

Stir, stir, stir.

 

[QUOTE=KerryF,Feb 14 2008, 03:56 PM] You're back peddling now, I'd guess you asked one of the engineers and they confirmed what people were telling you.

You stated:

 

I guess there are two spoons in that pot you two are stirring. Come on now.

But if you want to get down to that kind of symantics, this one can:

http://www.rchobby.co.uk/radio_contr...fire_-_rc.html

And it would take flight off of a treadmill too.

 

So what's the answer?

 

"Yes."

 

Except on statutory holidays.

 

It depends on how much friction there is involved (real world).

In a situation with 0 friction between the axles and the wheels, yes, it would take off.




As to stirring the pot, I was referring to wheel speed. If you use the engine's thrust to adjust for the wheels to turn at 10mph, the treadmill will cancel out the movement of the wheels. Once the wheels begin turning faster than 10mph, the airplane will move forward. Conversely, if they turn slower, the airplane will move backwards. And yes, this can happen - this is not a frictionless world, and if not enough thrust is applied, the wheels will begin to slow down due to friction.

I understand the engines are not directly linked to the wheels, however, set anything round on a treadmill, turn on the treadmill, and watch your round object roll off the back of it. Anything else would mean there is no friction between the wheels and the treadmill (at which point, it begs the question: why would the wheels be spinning?). Until that happens, the airplane WILL NOT MOVE. That's what I had meant to say with my first post, I guess I needed to be more specific.