Quote:
Originally posted by chumpmann:
that isnt the question.
It is that the plane is moving at the same speed as the treadmill and vice versa, not faster than the treadmill.
If the plane moves forward on the treadmill, that means it is going faster than the treadmill.

If you suddenly start the treadmill, the plane will eventually start to move backwards, until the engines push it to the same speed as the treadmill.

It doesnt matter if there are wheels or not, if it is sliding on its belly, and the engines are pushing the plane at the same speed of the treadmill, It stays in the same place, with no air resistance under the wings.

All you guys are saying is that the plane can move faster than the treadmill, yes that can happen. But that is not the question.

I understand the physics of a plane taking off.
You arent understanding the question.

If you arent explaining with the actual question in mind, then there is no reason to try and explain it.
Close, but wrong.

as the treadmill increases speed, the plane does NOT increase power to the thrusters. In order to stand still, the plane need only provide enough thrust to overcome the friction of the wheels on the tread belt. The thrust at low treadmill speed is the same at a high treadmill speed. The plane is not making the wheels spin, the treadmill is.

This would be analgous to tethering the plane to a fixed object. The treadmill can go as fast as it wants, as long as the plane remains stationary. The wheels will spin faster and faster, but fast spinning wheels does not make a plane take flight.