Not at all - the wheels would be free to roll backward or forward. Think of roller skates on a treadmill. You would have no control of them. So, the plane would be free to accelerate forward - just with wheels spinning outrageously fast.

 

did this thing fly or what????

 

So, you are saying there is no rolling friction, or drag from any of the components, and no external forces at work on the 485 ton aircraft. Proof? jd

 

Since the speed of the treadmill is BASED ON the forward speed of the plane, then no, we cannot agree on your synopsis. Neither the plane nor the treadmill can be moving and still at the same time.

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sBkJXu3Iv_w

I wouldn't say none. But if one jerk can move a passenger plane, there's not enough resistance in the wheels for the jet engines to even notice.

 

Ah yes, that is what I recall was confusing me with the original question. Though do you agree with there being ariflow across the wings in order for there to be flight?

 

Icht vill!

Unless it has pontoons without wheels...

 

Got this from the discovery web site:

"I have just received an email from Dan Tapster, executive producer of MythBusters.

Thanks to all the activity, he can't log in and asked me to post this for him.


quote:
"Adam? Jamie? Dan? Someone step up and tell us what happened tonight."

Dear all,

As wbarnhill called out, I thought I should step in to what is rapidly becoming a hornet's nest. I will try to calm things down but I don't hold out much hope!

First up, for those concerned that this story has been cancelled, don't worry, planes on a conveyer belt has been filmed, is spectacular, and will be part of what us Mythbusters refer to as 'episode 97'. Currently that is due to air on January 30th.

Secondly, for those very aggrieved fans feeling "duped" into watching tonight's show, I can only apologise. I'm not sure why the listings / internet advertised that tonight's show contained POCB. I will endeavour to find out an answer but for those conspiracy theorists amongst you, I can assure you that it will have just been an honest mistake. At one point
several months ago, POCB was going to be part of Airplane Hour. Somewhere, someone has mistakenly posted the wrong listing. It will have been a genuine mistake but nonetheless it was a mistake which is unacceptable. As said I will try to find out what went wrong and hope that you will see fit to forgive the team at Discovery.

Thanks in advance,

Dan "

 

I'm talking about scientific proof, not a stunt. I know my pickup is quite heavy when I try to push it. jd

 

And yet, the pickup engine, which has a lot more power than you has no problem moving it down the road. And you CAN move your truck if you have to. Right? That's the point. If it's possible for one human being (or a stubborn mule) to move the plane, then it's nothing for the engines which each generate tens of thousands of pound of thrust to do it. The friction in the wheel bearings doesn't add up to a rounding error compared to the force the engines produce.

 

Yes I do agree, and there will be plenty.

 

I haven't seen the video. Don't need to. So I didn't vote.
Need a minumum airspeed over the wings to generate lift.
Groundspeed, wheelspeed, irrelevent. Airspeed is what counts.

 

So you guys that think there is airflow over the wings.

When you are on a treadmill yourself walking or running .....just how much wind goes past your head and arms ?

Everything to do with momentum is being used/diffused between the tires and the treadmill surface.

The plane isn't moving the wheel/tires are rotating..that's it.

 

Newtons law.....if the treadmill is producing a force equal to the thrust of the engines, nothing happens, they cancel each other out. Since they are equal and the plane is basically stationary, there won't be airflow over the wings to produce lift. It's relatively simple......the plane won't take off.

 

Do me a favor. Watch the video, post 3. Why is the plane able to move forward on the treadmill track? If it can move forward on the treadmill track, would air flow over the wing surface?