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

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net wrote in message
...

"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


Uh. That would not be true. At least not as a general statement. Unless you
somehow believe that the extra friction of water moving at twice the takeoff
speed requires X power to overcome - which seems unlikely.
-------------------------------
Travis
Lake N3094P
PWK