The "Plane on a Treadmill" Question

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by orthodoc

snip~ Since the treadmill plane isn't moving relative to the atmosphere, the needed air flow around the wings doesn't happen and there's no lift; just a lot of engine revving and wheel-spinning.
~snip :p

Nope, the engines push the plane through the atmosphere (air), and what the ground and wheels are doing under it has absolutely no bearing on the plane moving through the air. Up she goes, into the wild blue yonder. Flying high, into the sky.

[orthodoc]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Nope, the engines push the plane through the atmosphere (air):

That's just what the engines don't do in the case of the treadmill plane. They aren't moving it through the atmosphere. It's stationary with respect to the air around it, therefore no flow, therefore no lift.

If you run on a treadmill, does air flow past your face (assuming no fan!)?

[xoxoxoBruce]

The plane isn't running on a treadmill, that's not how it moves. It moves by pushing through the air...the treadmill has no bearing on the plane.