Mythbusters - Plane on a Conveyor belt

[drevil5284]

Most people here remember that great debate, well its on Mythbusters right now. So far, they have done a small plane on a treadmill, and it accelerated in such a way that if the belt was long enough it would have taken off. Then they did the plane on a long piece of paper being dragged the opposite direction FASTER than the speed necessary to take off, and the plane still took off. Now they're doing the full size plane, lets see what happens.....

[drevil5284]

Well the plane just took off with ease. Myth busted. What were you guys thinking saying it wouldn't take off?

[mtlcafan79]

People are confusing air speed and ground speed. Airplanes will take off backwards in the correct conditions.

[QwikKota]

Most people here remember that great debate, well its on Mythbusters right now. So far, they have done a small plane on a treadmill, and it accelerated in such a way that if the belt was long enough it would have taken off. Then they did the plane on a long piece of paper being dragged the opposite direction FASTER than the speed necessary to take off, and the plane still took off. Now they're doing the full size plane, lets see what happens.....

I would gloat and make fun but its just too easy. Its not a friggin car, the engine drives a prop which pushes air backwards regardless of the ground surface. DUH

Beer me!

[hskr]

Well the plane just took off with ease. Myth busted. What were you guys thinking saying it wouldn't take off?

I think I foresee a lot of excuses coming up on other forums where the whole debate was played out prior to the show airing. You are always going to have some people that just won't except the facts.

[00RedRT]

For those who missed it, it's on again @ 1:00am EDT on the Discovery Channel. And yes, the plane will take off on the 1:00am showing as well.:jester:

I think the only thing I learned on this episode was that Flour Beetles just owned Cockroaches!:own3d:

[BTLFED R/T]

Yeah well, but ......uh.....ummm....that wasn't a real treadmill! :mad::jester:

Like that, Brian?! hehe

[RTgrouchman]

Oh please NO! Don't start this shit all over again!! :D

[hskr]

Yeah well, but ......uh.....ummm....that wasn't a real treadmill! :mad::jester:

Like that, Brian?! hehe

Something like that, even though the original question didn't even mention treadmill. :finger:

[drevil5284]

I would gloat and make fun but its just too easy. Its not a friggin car, the engine drives a prop which pushes air backwards regardless of the ground surface. DUH

Beer me!

Touche....the beer is on you my friend....

[BTLFED R/T]

Something like that, even though the original question didn't even mention treadmill. :finger:

That's how they roll! Right back atcha :finger::jester:

[chiller2484]

guess it makes sense, since the wheels spin freely (i.e. not drive wheels) during take off.

what if you took the wright brothers flying machine and put orville or wilbur wright on the conveyor belt. would they fly more than 13 seconds? :jester:

[Jimbarrt]

Yeah, what was everybodys reasoning for that? Anybody have a Delphi search to the original "discussion?" Or is that forum taboo to talk about?

[RTgrouchman]

It's proven the plane will fly........now what if you put a helicopter on a turn table, which is spinning the opposite direction of the rotors, will it lift? :jester:

[BTLFED R/T]

.:jester:.

[cbowlin99]

If at anypoint in time the wing is proven to be traveling faster than the fuselage, you are probably in a helicopter and therefore it is unsafe.