Can an airplane takeoff from a treadmill?

[CottonEyedHorn]

This topic has been beaten senseless over the last couple years, but I'm still not able to find the authoritative answer. All Google gets me is dozens of hits linked to a bunch of threads with nothing but

I know Mythbusters is supposed to be doing this on a show next month.

 

[suttree]

No. How would there be any lift?

 

[TexasDan]

Exactly

Rolling wheels do not equate to air flow (lift) under the wings.

 

[hornimal]

no. an plane takes off when air flow moves around the wing.

 

[GuadaHorn]

you have to be a woman

 

[TxArch]

^ I laughed

 

[AugieBall]

What about in front of a really really big fan?

 

[CaptainEd]

the fan would create lift.

 

[MGS]

An airplane on a treadmill has an airspeed of 0.

 

[jt09]

Yes. The wheels don't have anything to do w/ the propulsion of the plane.

 

[Officer_Cartman]

Prediction: lots of conflicting answers from people who are sure they are right, and nothing will be resolved. I thought this one through a while ago, but I don't remember what I decided on, and don't care.

 

[TrashMaster G]

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[CaptainEd]

tmg, true. i was only referring to the "takeoff" aspect of the question, not about it's continued flight.

 

[LonghornGirlie]

FWIW, I have a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas. In theory, fan yes, treadmill no.

 

[Kwisatz]

I keep seeing this thread on different forums. Is there anyone that actually thinks this would work? Seems like an ESPN type made up controversy to me.

 

[Not Shinola]

I say yes, If the treadmill was as long as a runway. Flat surface is all that would be required for take off. If it was a running tread mill it would just make the wheels turn faster, but wouldn't prevent the plane from moving.

 

[po elvis]

is there a runway at the end of the treadmill?

 

[accuratehorn]

It is the speed of the air over the wing that causes the plane to lift off the ground, not the speed of the tires turning on the ground. A child would know this is ridiculous, and no further discussion is needed.

 

[alden]

No. No, man. ****, no, man. I believe you'd get your *** kicked sayin' something like that, man.

 

[clandestine]

The fact that this is even arguable is proof that everyone in the world is a ******* idiot.

 

[LostinTime]

Yep ^
^

 

[longhrnfan]

some people dont understand how aircraft fly.

It seems to defy logic, and people refuse to look into the physics.

Idoits.

 

[Dionysus]

What if the plane were a Harrier with hover capabilities, and it was made of balsa wood filled with helium and the treadmill was in a zero gravity environment? That might work.

 

[Hayden_Horn]

this question is such ********. the REAL question that people should be approaching is this: what is the air speed velocity of an unladened sparrow?

 

[mez2]

what if it's inverted?

 

[TrashMaster G]

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[texashorne]

The fat women at the gym never take off anywhere..

 

[pmg]

Fan? What fan? Who said anything about a fan? There's no fan, and no fly.

 

[miguelito]

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[miguelito]