So...about that plane on the treadmill...

"Rip" wrote in message
. net...
Ray wrote:
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
Yes, the airplane will take off. The thrust of the engine is against the
AIR. NOT the treadmill. There are two real life situations analogous to
this:
1) Will an airplane on an essentially frictionless surface (say, wet ice)
take off?

Of course it will at airspeed X. And it will do so at a power setting that
creates airspeed X.

2) Will a sea plane take off upriver in a current equal to it's take-off
speed (this one is a cheat, since it involves drag not involved in the
original situation, but should be a good "fire starter" for further
discussion).


Yes it will and it will do so at a power setting that creates airspeed X x2