An airplane on a treadmill: will it take off?

**Mich the Tester** · 17 June 2009, 11:06

Originally posted by bobhope View Post

Well will it?

No. Not unless you put a very big fan in front of it.

**Fred Bloggs** · 17 June 2009, 11:08

Ryan Air are building one right now

**VectraMan** · 17 June 2009, 11:11

It won't stay on the treadmill for long. And then it'll take off.

**The Lone Gunman** · 17 June 2009, 11:11

Yes. The treadmill is irrelevant as the aircraft uses props or jets to attain speed and not some sort of friction based propulsion.

**Moscow Mule** · 17 June 2009, 11:14

You can prevent the plane from taking off by attaching blocks to your treadmill.

**Mich the Tester** · 17 June 2009, 11:14

Originally posted by The Lone Gunman View Post

Yes. The treadmill is irrelevant as the aircraft uses props or jets to attain speed and not some sort of friction based propulsion.

Are we assuming that the aircraft is using it's engines on the treadmill?

The aircrat takes off due to the lift caused by the airflow over the wings being slower than under the wings because the route taken by the air over the curved top of the wings is longer than the route under the flat bottom, and therefore the air pressure is lower above the wings. If the treadmill is standing still then the aircraft is also standing still and doesn't have enough air flowing over and under the wings to generate lift.

Perhaps at some unfeasible speed the treadmill itself would cause sufficient airflow to the wings, but I rather suspect that the aircraft's wheel bearings would have melted by then.

**Cyberman** · 17 June 2009, 11:19

Originally posted by Mich the Tester View Post

Are we assuming that the aircraft is using it's engines on the treadmill?

The aircrat takes off due to the lift caused by the airflow over the wings being slower than under the wings because the route taken by the air over the curved top of the wings is longer than the route under the flat bottom, and therefore the air pressure is lower above the wings. If the treadmill is standing still then the aircraft is also standing still and doesn't have enough air flowing over and under the wings to generate lift.

Perhaps at some unfeasible speed the treadmill itself would cause sufficient airflow to the wings, but I rather suspect that the aircraft's wheel bearings would have melted by then.

If the treadmill was outside in very high winds, I've no doubt that the aircraft could take off.

**TimberWolf** · 17 June 2009, 11:24

It could take off, but would need more powerful engines than usual to get the required air speed under the wings to create lift.

**Churchill** · 17 June 2009, 11:24

The thrust generated by the engine(s) is not transferred to the wheels (as mentioned by others) therefore the treadmill is irrelevant.

The aircraft will take off unless anchored down.

Yes	38.89%	14 votes
No	44.44%	16 votes
AndyW will be serving hot towels	16.67%	6 votes

An airplane on a treadmill: will it take off?