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Post by FridayFreak on Nov 9, 2007 16:59:33 GMT -5
I have been reading a message board that is having a interesting discussion. Thought I would see what you guys think....
Here is the question....
A plane is standing on a runway that can move (like a giant conveyor
belt). This conveyor has a control system that tracks the plane's
speed and tunes the speed of the conveyor to be exactly the same (but
in the opposite direction).
Will the plane be able to take off?
The are good arguments either way, and I believe someone said that Mythbusters will try to solve this.
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Post by Drayton Sawyer on Nov 9, 2007 19:17:46 GMT -5
I don't think they could make a conveyor system that runs fast enough. Especially when you consider how heavy most planes are.
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Post by Colt .45 on Nov 10, 2007 15:46:53 GMT -5
i think its very possible. Depending on the plane of course. If your looking at a airliner your looking to get it up to 250-300 knots. Or a private plane 100-150 knots. I dont really see a point in a conveyer belt runway though.
Some planes rely on airspeed more then lift. (I.E the F-107 Starfighter) my only concern would be landing on it rather then taking off. If the runway has to bend, the runway will have to be linked together, kind of like a chain. If the landing gear hits one of those links, the plane will probably flip or the gear will be ripped off.
Pilots also do that all the time too Friday Freak. They use wind to get up more then engines. Thats why they always fly into the wind and sometimes it takes longer to get to the place then it does to come back. The pilots up here love to go when there are 30+ knot winds. In reality they are going zero knots, but with the wind over their wings, they are going 30+ knots. you see this at alot of airshows aswell. The Piper J-3 Cub was built for this reason. Its top speed is only 80 knots. If you have a 30+ knot wind coming from you straight on, if you just push that throttle in a little bit you will come right off the ground.
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Post by d3M0n on Nov 10, 2007 15:58:58 GMT -5
I say no... physics wouldnt allow it
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Post by FridayFreak on Nov 10, 2007 19:51:53 GMT -5
I say no... physics wouldnt allow it That is what I say Demon. It isnt a question of If someone can actually do it. The cost and danger alone is almost inconcevable, for a plane to be on a treadmill. It is just a debate if it could actually happen. Hypothetically could the plane take off? |
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Post by Zombified Jeremy on Nov 10, 2007 21:12:57 GMT -5
Colt touched on this, but is this hypothetical runway straight?
It wouldn't work if it had bends.
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Post by Colt .45 on Nov 10, 2007 21:30:03 GMT -5
like i said, pilots do this kind of thing around here all the time. This is also how helicopters react in a engine failure. as long as the air keeps the rotors moving, the helicopter will glide down just fine. Statisticly, helicopters have a better survivability rate then airplanes. It is because in power failures, they have a better glide ratio then airplanes. If enough air is moving over the wings, then it will take off.
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