First of all, the GROWN MAN in that video was unable to sucessfully pronounce the word "simplified". Second of all, that video did not address the question at all. The question addresses an airplane's ability to take off from a moving treadmill when the speed of the airplane and the speed of the treadmill are the same. That video addresses an airplane's ability to move forward on a treadmill that is moving backwards.

Here we go, from the beginning:

An infinitely long treadmill is at rest on the ground. The treadmill's belt (the part that moves) is stationary. An airplane is at rest on the belt. The belt begins to move backwards. It accelerates to 100 MPH. The airplane is producing no thrust. At this point, it is stationary relative to the belt, and moving backwards at 100 MPH relative to both the ground and the air. The airplane throttles up to match the speed of the belt. It is now moving forward at 100 MPH relative to the belt, which is moving backwards at 100 MPH relative to the ground and the air. The speed of the airplane relative to the ground and the air is the sum of its speed relative to the belt and the speed of the belt relative to the ground.

100 MPH forward (airplane relative to belt) + 100 MPH backward (belt relative to both ground and air) = 0 MPH (airplane relative to ground/air)

If the speed of the airplane through the air is 0, no lift is produced, so the airplane will not take off.


I'm sorry if this comes off as arrogant or cocky. That was never my intention. I was just trying to contribute to an interesting discussion.