Plane on conveyer: Will it ever take off?
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 65,827
Likes: 2
From: FCUK
Originally Posted by VoIPA,Dec 7 2005, 11:51 AM
The plane will NOT take off. There are two scenarios that prove this.
Scenario one: Design and construction of the enormous conveyor are awarded to the low bidder on a fixed price basis. This leads to the contractor cutting corners and catastrophic failure of the belt mechanism during testing destroys the aircraft before takeoff. Plane never leaves the ground (unless, of course, it is accidentally catapulted onto the nearby highway using the slingshot effect, but this is explained more by conservation of stupidity than actual "lift").
Scenario two: Design and construction of the conveyor are awarded to the low bidder on a cost-plus basis. Price overruns and an unfortunate change in government administration cause the project to be cancelled before the belt material is selected. Again, the plane stays planted to the Earth.
There is a third scenario which involves Haliburton, but I'll leave that for the politics forum.
Scenario one: Design and construction of the enormous conveyor are awarded to the low bidder on a fixed price basis. This leads to the contractor cutting corners and catastrophic failure of the belt mechanism during testing destroys the aircraft before takeoff. Plane never leaves the ground (unless, of course, it is accidentally catapulted onto the nearby highway using the slingshot effect, but this is explained more by conservation of stupidity than actual "lift").
Scenario two: Design and construction of the conveyor are awarded to the low bidder on a cost-plus basis. Price overruns and an unfortunate change in government administration cause the project to be cancelled before the belt material is selected. Again, the plane stays planted to the Earth.
There is a third scenario which involves Haliburton, but I'll leave that for the politics forum.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 93,305
Likes: 820
From: Nowhere
Originally Posted by FO2K,Dec 6 2005, 11:35 PM
I performed this experiment for my children when they were young and later with my grandchildren.
Instead of a VCR, I use a couple of balloons filled with air, and a couple with helium. I never get tired of seeing the results.
Instead of a VCR, I use a couple of balloons filled with air, and a couple with helium. I never get tired of seeing the results.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 93,305
Likes: 820
From: Nowhere
Originally Posted by VoIPA,Dec 6 2005, 10:51 PM
The plane will NOT take off. There are two scenarios that prove this.
Scenario one: Design and construction of the enormous conveyor are awarded to the low bidder on a fixed price basis. This leads to the contractor cutting corners and catastrophic failure of the belt mechanism during testing destroys the aircraft before takeoff. Plane never leaves the ground (unless, of course, it is accidentally catapulted onto the nearby highway using the slingshot effect, but this is explained more by conservation of stupidity than actual "lift").
Scenario two: Design and construction of the conveyor are awarded to the low bidder on a cost-plus basis. Price overruns and an unfortunate change in government administration cause the project to be cancelled before the belt material is selected. Again, the plane stays planted to the Earth.
There is a third scenario which involves Haliburton, but I'll leave that for the politics forum.
Scenario one: Design and construction of the enormous conveyor are awarded to the low bidder on a fixed price basis. This leads to the contractor cutting corners and catastrophic failure of the belt mechanism during testing destroys the aircraft before takeoff. Plane never leaves the ground (unless, of course, it is accidentally catapulted onto the nearby highway using the slingshot effect, but this is explained more by conservation of stupidity than actual "lift").
Scenario two: Design and construction of the conveyor are awarded to the low bidder on a cost-plus basis. Price overruns and an unfortunate change in government administration cause the project to be cancelled before the belt material is selected. Again, the plane stays planted to the Earth.
There is a third scenario which involves Haliburton, but I'll leave that for the politics forum.
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 912
Likes: 0
From: Fair Oaks
Originally Posted by WestSideBilly,Dec 7 2005, 08:59 AM
Do you routinely crash your car(s) into brick walls?
Not routinely."And, if you want to, you can actually do this experiment by just hitting your brakes really hard with a helium balloon floating next to you. It's pretty cool."
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 93,305
Likes: 820
From: Nowhere
Originally Posted by FO2K,Dec 7 2005, 12:16 PM
Not routinely."And, if you want to, you can actually do this experiment by just hitting your brakes really hard with a helium balloon floating next to you. It's pretty cool."
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,938
Likes: 0
From: limerick
Originally Posted by Austblue,Dec 7 2005, 04:28 PM
