"Ray" wrote in message ...
Looks like airplane treadmill problem, regularly a spark for flame wars on
R.A.P., has made it into the mainstream.

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/

Let the arguing begin!

- Ray

That would depend on what has the greater resistance,
the air in front of the plane or the belt on the treadmill.
If it was harder for the plane to push through the air in
front of it then the plane would merely roll stationary
on the treadmill.
If the resistance of the treadmill rollers was greater
than the air in front of the plane then the plane would
push forward thereby achieving lift through air flow
passage over the wings.

You can equate it to an airboat in a river.
Will the river push the airboat down stream or
will the propulsion of the engine move it forward?

Just my two cents worth....

David
Greer, SC