Plane on a treadmill poll...

[joecoolfreak]

Still haven't got it have you? The speed of the plane isn't determained by the wheels and it isn't determained by how fast the propeller is spinning. It is determained by how far it goes in a certain time. Very simple concept. In your senerio, assuming that the plane has good bearings(ie...low resistance)...then the propellors would barely have to work to maintain a stationary position. Just enough to overcome the rolling resistance. As soon as you rev up the engine to take off capacity, the plane will move forward and take off just as it normally would regardless of how fast the treadmill goes because the wheels have a definate amount of friction and it doesn't matter how fast they are going.

[{X}Echo419]

Still haven't got it have you? The speed of the plane isn't determained by the wheels and it isn't determained by how fast the propeller is spinning. It is determained by how far it goes in a certain time. Very simple concept. In your senerio, assuming that the plane has good bearings(ie...low resistance)...then the propellors would barely have to work to maintain a stationary position. Just enough to overcome the rolling resistance. As soon as you rev up the engine to take off capacity, the plane will move forward and take off just as it normally would regardless of how fast the treadmill goes because the wheels have a definate amount of friction and it doesn't matter how fast they are going.

are you reading?

OF COURSE THE PLANE IS NOT PROPELLED FORWARD BY IT'S WHEELS!

take the wheels off and put the plane on the ground. now fly it hot shot.

[JennB]

take the wheels off and put the plane on the ground. now fly it hot shot.

Ok. If there wasn't friction caused by the rough ground that would rip the poor little plane's belly off, the engines would still suck in air and pull it forward.