Will it fly(don't answer too fast)?

[Craig.]

[quote]

Bit like me ....... over analysed ........ but really simple

[eno]

Sounds about right

You wern't supposed to agree  :P

[Craig.]

[quote]

You wern't supposed to agree

[TSC.]

well, to be fair, I was working it out with the conveyor equal to the speed of the plane, not the wheels, as stated in the question.

So does that make a difference?, because I think it ought to, but i'm so confused now I not even sure where I live.

Cheers,

TSC.

[eno]

well, to be fair, I was working it out with the conveyor equal to the speed of the plane, not the wheels, as stated in the question.

So does that make a difference?, because I think it ought to, but i'm so confused now I not even sure where I live.

Cheers,

TSC.

.... and Craig was saying I was simple  :P

[Craig.]

Just agreeing with your original statement.

[Jakemaster]

no, it wont.  The whole principle of flight is getting airflowing over the wings.  If the plane isnt moving, air wont flow, and so it wont take off.

[TSC.]

You didn't read the whole thread did you Jake?? I think there is some controversy as to the wording of the original question.

Cheers,

TSC.

[Saitek]

Well - I thought OTTOL - meant it not as a trick question, but as a serious thing of principle. I stand by my assumption that the plane would be stationary (4th reply) and wouldn't get anywhere.

Eventually as someone already said the wheels would be ripped apart - but hey that wasn't the question.  ;D

[Hagar]

Like I said, unless this scenario is differant to the one I know, I think it is worded wrong. There is supposed to be no suggestion of movement from the conveyer belt. Just that there is a belt with the potential to do so.

After reading through the original question carefully I don't think it's worded wrongly at all. Once the aircraft starts moving the conveyer belt can move as fast as you like in the opposite direction. Unless the wheel brakes are applied this will have no affect on the aircraft. Think about it.

And everyone listen to Eno, he knows more than he lets on

Indeed.

PS. It took me a while to get my head round this one.

[Craig.]

After reading through the original question carefully I don't think it's worded wrongly at all. Once the aircraft starts moving the conveyer belt can move as fast as you like in the opposite direction. Unless the wheel brakes are applied this will have no affect on the aircraft. Think about it.

Like I said I have seen it worded differantly thats all:), There are no doubt countless ways this is written so it probably is right. As for the second part I think thats what Eno has been trying to ram into peoples heads while going slightly insane

[Souichiro]

Let's say the conveyor belt is moving at 80 KIAS

According to my my highly scientific illustration the answer IMO is the following: When the conveyor belt is moving to the left then it will make the wheels turn in the opposite direction. Because of the weight and friction on the wheels you will move to the left with the conveyor belt. When you apply throttle to counter this movement  and you reach the 80 KIAS (groundspeed) The plane  ( In my case a small and light one) Should be able to take-off. At least that's what I think....



Ass Of plane                                           Nose of plane

                                                                                                                  Wheel     O =====>
                                     _______________________________________________________________________________________


<======= Direction of conveyor belt


Remember planes don't need to go forward to stay in the air ... For instance if you have a stall speed of 60 kias but a perfectly constant headwind of 80 kias then you can even fly backwards.


Cheers Professor Soui (who isn't gonna give up his dayjob just yet)

[Hagar]

Remember planes don't need to go forward to stay in the air ... For instance if you have a stall speed of 60 kias but a perfectly constant headwind of 80 kias then you can even fly backwards.


Cheers Professor Soui (who isn't gonna give up his dayjob just yet)

Yes but the plane will be moving forward as normal. It's powered by the prop or jet thrust against the surrounding air, nothing to do with the wheels. The speed of the conveyer belt in the opposite direction is completely irrelevant - although on a high performance aircraft the tyres & wheel bearings would probably melt in the process.

[Woodlouse2002]

If you think about it like I do then by the time the plane gets to take off speed the conveyor will be going at a phenominal rate. Because if the conveyor detects forward movement on the plane then it starts going backwards. Therefore if the plane is going forwards at 5 mph then it will go backwards at 5mph. However the plane will still go forwards, still at 5mph but the conveyor, going backwards at 5mph will think the plane is doing 10mph so it will speed up another 5mph. While it does this the plane will still be going at 5mph but moving forwards even though the conveyor is going backwards at twice that rate so it'll speed up to 15mph. This will go on infinately intill either the conveyor or the plane breaks. See?

[Hagar]

If you think about it like I do then by the time the plane gets to take off speed the conveyor will be going at a phenominal rate. Because if the conveyor detects forward movement on the plane then it starts going backwards. Therefore if the plane is going forwards at 5 mph then it will go backwards at 5mph. However the plane will still go forwards, still at 5mph but the conveyor, going backwards at 5mph will think the plane is doing 10mph so it will speed up another 5mph. While it does this the plane will still be going at 5mph but moving forwards even though the conveyor is going backwards at twice that rate so it'll speed up to 15mph. This will go on infinately intill either the conveyor or the plane breaks. See?

The way I'm looking at it the forward speed of the aircraft is not relative to the conveyer belt at all. Apart from the extra strain on the wheels it will take off quite normally.