1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Is it possible for a airplane to take off from a treadmill?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by WPDAWG11, Apr 7, 2013.

  1. Apr 7, 2013 at 3:52 PM
    #21
    Bandit196

    Bandit196 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2012
    Member:
    #91552
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ross
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    '09 DCSB
    OME 885's, N140's front, N182 rear with Dakars , 275/70R17 BFG T/A KO on 17x8 Yuma 908B's
    Of course it will. The fact that the surface the plane is situated on is moving doesn't matter at all. The plane generates all of it's forward motion from the engines, not from the wheels. The wheels can spin all they want but the force that's pulling that plane forward is completely independent from the opposing force of the treadmill. If you had a plane on a giant ass treadmill, it would still move forward and eventually take off.

    Of course, I have absolutely NO idea what I'm talking about, but it makes sense to me.

    EDIT: Just thought of this. I guess it'd be like having a toy car on a treadmill, if you leave it there its gonna go nowhere or go shootin backwards off of it, but if you apply a force separate from the unpowered wheels, ie your hand (engines), with enough energy expended from you, you can still push it forward on the treadmill.
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2013
  2. Apr 7, 2013 at 3:53 PM
    #22
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2010
    Member:
    #48149
    Messages:
    4,755
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Apple Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 LT 6spd
    Think of this, if there is a 50MPH wind going in an opposite direction of your car and you apply 50MPH of speed will you car stay still?
     
  3. Apr 7, 2013 at 3:56 PM
    #23
    Bandit196

    Bandit196 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2012
    Member:
    #91552
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ross
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    '09 DCSB
    OME 885's, N140's front, N182 rear with Dakars , 275/70R17 BFG T/A KO on 17x8 Yuma 908B's

    Well your car applies all of its forward momentum through the wheels which have to oppose the speed of the treadmill... a plane doesn't.
     
  4. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:00 PM
    #24
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2010
    Member:
    #48149
    Messages:
    4,755
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Apple Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 LT 6spd
    Oh i meant to mention without a conveyor, the air resistance against the car would be the "conveyor" in this experiment and on a regular road.


    I'm aware of what goes on, i'm just making an argument for the opposite case to show how ridiculous this test is.
     
  5. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:01 PM
    #25
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2010
    Member:
    #48149
    Messages:
    4,755
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Apple Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 LT 6spd
    was watching the conveyor in the mythbusters episode.
     
  6. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:01 PM
    #26
    Bandit196

    Bandit196 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2012
    Member:
    #91552
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ross
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    '09 DCSB
    OME 885's, N140's front, N182 rear with Dakars , 275/70R17 BFG T/A KO on 17x8 Yuma 908B's

    Ahhh I gotcha :thumbsup:

    I had my head wrapped around treadmills still, didn't even register the word "wind" haha.
     
  7. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:04 PM
    #27
    Kylsix

    Kylsix Makin' it Hail

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2012
    Member:
    #82976
    Messages:
    216
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rick
    Albuquerque, NM
    Vehicle:
    '12 Mag Gray T|X Pro
    OME w/ 886s & Dakkar Leafs
    Someone hit the nail on the head earlier - it's because the airplane's power doesn't come from the wheels. If it did, the airplane would not gain any lift. Now, if the myth were that the airplane would take off only under the power of a tarp being pulled under it, the plane would just sit still.

    The disconnect is that people always associate the wheels with the power source of the aircraft.
     
  8. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:05 PM
    #28
    Tacoyota

    Tacoyota senile member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2009
    Member:
    #20028
    Messages:
    2,931
    Gender:
    Male
    North of Cali, South of Canada
    Vehicle:
    08 4wd
    4.56 gears, rear trutrac,DT header, 235/85r16 Duratracs, 2nd filter pulled, inter.wipers, Cruise control, Factory alum. whls/winter tires(2nd set), Afe pro Dry-S , Dumbo eared flaps cut down.
    That was sad , the so called conveyer belt is just a long tarp.... or done another way he could be towed up to a certain speed with a tow rope. Jees , they knew this in WW2!!
     
  9. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:05 PM
    #29
    teneighty

    teneighty I'd rather be skiing...

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2012
    Member:
    #88357
    Messages:
    5,725
    Gender:
    Male
    Right behind you. NY
    Vehicle:
    18’ F150 SCREW LB 3.5 EcoBoost
    Bilstein 5100’s (x4), 275/65/20 Cooper XLT AT3’s
    Lift is generated by a difference in velocity between the plane and air. There has to be some type of motion. If a plane is on a treadmill it will not fly unless there is air being passed by the wings which isn't coming from motion because its not moving... so unless you have a force of air by some other means like a huge fan... shes not gonna take off.

    :der:
     
  10. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:07 PM
    #30
    Tacoyota

    Tacoyota senile member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2009
    Member:
    #20028
    Messages:
    2,931
    Gender:
    Male
    North of Cali, South of Canada
    Vehicle:
    08 4wd
    4.56 gears, rear trutrac,DT header, 235/85r16 Duratracs, 2nd filter pulled, inter.wipers, Cruise control, Factory alum. whls/winter tires(2nd set), Afe pro Dry-S , Dumbo eared flaps cut down.
    lift is generated by a longer line over the top of the wing (that curve) it creates a lower pressure compared to the bottom of the wing .. in short.
     
  11. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:08 PM
    #31
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2010
    Member:
    #48149
    Messages:
    4,755
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Apple Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 LT 6spd
    A huge fan? like, oh i don't know, a Propeller?
     
  12. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:10 PM
    #32
    teneighty

    teneighty I'd rather be skiing...

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2012
    Member:
    #88357
    Messages:
    5,725
    Gender:
    Male
    Right behind you. NY
    Vehicle:
    18’ F150 SCREW LB 3.5 EcoBoost
    Bilstein 5100’s (x4), 275/65/20 Cooper XLT AT3’s
    Not all planes have props

    :der:
     
  13. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:11 PM
    #33
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2010
    Member:
    #48149
    Messages:
    4,755
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Apple Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 LT 6spd
    :rolleyes:

    A jet / turbine works on the similar principals.
     
  14. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:11 PM
    #34
    Bandit196

    Bandit196 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2012
    Member:
    #91552
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ross
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    '09 DCSB
    OME 885's, N140's front, N182 rear with Dakars , 275/70R17 BFG T/A KO on 17x8 Yuma 908B's
    haha I give up.
     
  15. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:12 PM
    #35
    Bandit196

    Bandit196 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2012
    Member:
    #91552
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ross
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    '09 DCSB
    OME 885's, N140's front, N182 rear with Dakars , 275/70R17 BFG T/A KO on 17x8 Yuma 908B's
    Regardless, how many planes do you know that FLY from their wheels spinning?

    There's a reason they're called landing gear and not take-off or flying gear.
     
  16. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:13 PM
    #36
    teneighty

    teneighty I'd rather be skiing...

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2012
    Member:
    #88357
    Messages:
    5,725
    Gender:
    Male
    Right behind you. NY
    Vehicle:
    18’ F150 SCREW LB 3.5 EcoBoost
    Bilstein 5100’s (x4), 275/65/20 Cooper XLT AT3’s
    We have to assume that your keeping your speed the same as the treadmill... So I you have a jet that's putting out enough thrust to keep it on the treadmill it's not going to fly.

    Lets talk prop planes

    what if your prop is positioned in a spot where the air forced by the prop doesn't meet the wings?
     
  17. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:15 PM
    #37
    teneighty

    teneighty I'd rather be skiing...

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2012
    Member:
    #88357
    Messages:
    5,725
    Gender:
    Male
    Right behind you. NY
    Vehicle:
    18’ F150 SCREW LB 3.5 EcoBoost
    Bilstein 5100’s (x4), 275/65/20 Cooper XLT AT3’s
    No shit... I never said the wheels propel the the plane

    :jerkoff:
     
  18. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:15 PM
    #38
    Tacoyota

    Tacoyota senile member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2009
    Member:
    #20028
    Messages:
    2,931
    Gender:
    Male
    North of Cali, South of Canada
    Vehicle:
    08 4wd
    4.56 gears, rear trutrac,DT header, 235/85r16 Duratracs, 2nd filter pulled, inter.wipers, Cruise control, Factory alum. whls/winter tires(2nd set), Afe pro Dry-S , Dumbo eared flaps cut down.
    who needs propellors, get a glider, find a thermal
     
  19. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:17 PM
    #39
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2010
    Member:
    #48149
    Messages:
    4,755
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Apple Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 LT 6spd
    Doesn't matter. as soon as the plane has any momentum forward there is little to no resistance on the wheels and it will accelerate right up to take off speed with out an issue... Like i said before, the conveyor could be going 1000mph and the plane would still take off...
     
  20. Apr 7, 2013 at 4:17 PM
    #40
    Bandit196

    Bandit196 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2012
    Member:
    #91552
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ross
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    '09 DCSB
    OME 885's, N140's front, N182 rear with Dakars , 275/70R17 BFG T/A KO on 17x8 Yuma 908B's
    The air doesn't... what? A prop isn't there to shove air under the wings, by that thought process no single engine airplane would fly because the prop isn't infront of the wing surface. The prop doesn't have to initially meet the meet and exceed the speed of the treadmill because it's forward momentum isn't applied by the wheels, it's applied by the prop. Think of it as the plane being pulled forward by the turning of the prop.
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2013

Products Discussed in

To Top