The "Plane on a Treadmill" Question

[tw]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

I think they're in danger of burning anyway. Their friction is the only path for the treadmill to transfer energy to the airplane, and they've been specifically designed *not* to do that, whereas the engines are designed specifically to do exactly what they're doing. So the proposed takeoff failure scenario has a power transfer through friction in the wheel bearings equal to the power output of the engines (less engine system losses, of course). So even in a smallish airplane we're talking 100-200 horsepower...which is about 150 kilowatts. How long before the wheel bearings fail from heat?

My auto inspection shop complains about the cost of their treadmill. $20,000+ to test hundreds of horsepower cars (a machine required by the state required and that has not purpose only years later). Same treadmills exist for Indy and F1 racers designed to test 500 and 800 HP engines. I think we can find those bearings.

Maybe we and the Russians could cooperate on buiding one for airports? Anything for world peace. And since we are using labrat's ass, then it would be methane powered. Reduced global warming. No tailwinds. Having tapped chuck norris, the reduction in bullshit story lines means no additional landfills. Clearly there are plenty of spinoffs from this original proposal including 18 pages of deep technical discusion that would make any Congressman proud.