A question...

[asdf1234]

Originally posted by AZ3.8Camaro:
Mike, Matt, Jeff, I and a few others are the only smart ones eh?
Bummer.
You guys are totally stuck in "car mode" and thinking about this from a car standpoint.
You need to understand how thrust works, and how it is physically impossible for a damn treadmill to counteract thrust.
Its all so very clear.

But you forgot about me? I argued like two pages worth!

[3.4 slow to go]

It's crystal for me, but I'll let the rest of y'all deal w/your special issues on your own time ;)

[L32Projekt]

Great, everyone's convinced they're correct. This is why the US is screwed. :D

[BLLDOGG]

im not convinced im right but im also not convinced im wrong

[ellik]

The only factor that I havent seen anyone take into consideration is the strength of the wheels/landing gear. The plane is going to move forward and gain speed just like it would on a stationary runway because the jet engine or propellor is acting on the air, not the ground. However, because the wheels will be turning at roughly twice the speed at which they are designed to during a normal takeoff, there is a possibility for failure in the tires or landing gear (suspension) before it reaches the critical speed at which it attains enough air flowing over its wings for take takeoff. So, unless the wheels and landing gear are suffieciently overdesigned to handle the doubled stress taht they are taking from the treadmill, there could be a failure which would lead to a crash before the plane makes it off the (moving) ground. Therefor, I would say there is not enough information to answer this question.... unless you just want us to ASSUME that the tires are not going to blow out or simply get ripped off from the plane.

[ December 02, 2005, 10:55 AM: Message edited by: ellik ]

[L36Camaro]

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