Thread: Airplane on a treadmill

The wheels are in contact with the ground but the wheels are NOT driven, so of course, the plane will take off. I'm not too smart but i'm not stupid either. Yes i've seen the Mythbusters experiment on tv and even before they attempted the experiment i said that to my mate who was watching with me. I won $100 coz he bet me that it wouldn't take off. As soon as i secured the wager i explained why it would take off and he still didn't believe me so i waited till the experiment was over and collected. Its just a brain fart experiment. His did, mine didn't.

Cheers Rod

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I may be late into this but the aeroplane (not airplane) clearly wont fly in that situation.

It will remain completely stationary unless more engine power is applied or the speed of the conveyor changes.

If the speed of the conveyor matches the input of the aeroplane there will be zero airspeed.

The groundspeed will be high but no lift is being produced by the wings.....see.....the aeroplane is not moving through the air , only rolling on the conveyor using it's engine power to to keep up to the conveyor operator's input......or conversely the conveyor operator is keeping abreast of the pilot's input.

No argument. It won't fly.

It will take off. The conveyor belt has no effect on the thrust provided by the prop.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I may be late into this but the aeroplane (not airplane) clearly wont fly in that situation.

It will remain completely stationary unless more engine power is applied or the speed of the conveyor changes.

If the speed of the conveyor matches the input of the aeroplane there will be zero airspeed.

The groundspeed will be high but no lift is being produced by the wings.....see.....the aeroplane is not moving through the air , only rolling on the conveyor using it's engine power to to keep up to the conveyor operator's input......or conversely the conveyor operator is keeping abreast of the pilot's input.

No argument. It won't fly.

I would have thought the engine (prop) was producing air flow across the wings and therefore creating lift. Also if the plane is rolling on the conveyor and keeping up with it, then the net ground speed would be zip.

The treadmill won't be able to keep the aircraft stationary, no matter how fast the treadmill goes. The engines on aircraft don't drive the wheels, they only pull and/or push the aircraft through the air. Therefore once the aircraft gets enough airspeed via the thrust from the engines, it will become airborne.

I know it's probably the wrong analogy, but in my head I think of an aircraft on skis that is gliding along on the ice and taxiing before for takeoff. Once the throttle is advanced, the aircraft moves forward until sufficient airspeed is attained and the aircraft can lift off. Doesn't matter what the undercarriage is doing or what surface it is on (so to speak).

Originally Posted by FatBoy

The treadmill won't be able to keep the aircraft stationary, no matter how fast the treadmill goes. The engines on aircraft don't drive the wheels, they only pull and/or push the aircraft through the air. Therefore once the aircraft gets enough airspeed via the thrust from the engines, it will become airborne.

Provided the treadmill is long enough of course...... (about a runway length long..)

but if you set the treadmill steep enough the plane wont generate enough thrust to roll the wheels up the tread mill as it will be acting as a wheel chock...

if the plane cane move laterally it cant generate airspeed over the wings to generate lift.

unless its a harrier which is out because its a jet.

What if it was an osprey, they have props.