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

The treadmill or tarp has a certain amount of wind resistance or drag to it. Once moving fast enough, the air under the wing (plane / airfoil) would become "attached" or motivated by that drag. High speed in the bottom, low speed on top and Kah'boya you have lift. That is as long as enough velocity can be maintained on the underside of the plane.

 

i see

 

Yeah im pretty much going to agree with this. Imagine running on a treadmill you dont feel wind resistance. Without a treadmill you feel the wind resistance.

 

The plane is not driven by it's wheels. It doesn't matter how fast the ground is moving under the plane. It's a matter of how fast air is going over and under the wings. So, given a long enough treadmill (same length as an airstip runway) the plane would still take off.

The only difference when taking off on a treadmill would be that your wheels are spinning at a different speed.

Planes fitted with pontoons can take off on a river or any body of water with ease as long as the water is smooth. Doesn't matter how fast it's moving.

 

Female Brain Navigation Simulator:

 

Here's the mythbuster video of the plane and conveyor. I don't really understand why it was a myth that needed busting? The plane is moving because of the propeller. As soon as it's forward motion gets enough air flowing over the wings, it'll fly. Just because the wheels are spinning faster than they would without the conveyor means nothing. Only airflow over the wings determines whether the plane flies or not. Plus speed in an aircraft is also measured by airflow over the pitot-static tubes. It has nothing to do with the speed of the wheels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YORCk1BN7QY

 

I can't believe this is a question that stumps anyone. The wheels have BEARINGS and are free to spin. What the heck is confusing anyone about this question???