"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

It is a trick question. The obvious assumption being that the plane will
not move, therefore no airflow over the wings. The plane, however WILL move
down the runway. The propeller or the jets will pull or push on the air and
move the plane. The wheels are not providing the moving force, the reaction
of the thrust mechanism against the air is.

One of two things would happen before the plane took off though, the
bearings in the planes wheels would burn up or the motor driving the
treadmill would burn up. The control system is in an infinite feedback
loop. The plane would move due to the forces described above and the
treadmill would try to speed up, so the wheels would move faster, then the
treadmill would move faster etc etc etc......