Mythbusters, Plane On A Treadmill Discussion

[herbicide]

.01 is for ordinary automobile tires on concrete. I would imagine for those on a plane, it's lower. For the bearings, it would be 1/10 of that number or less most likely. In any event, the force needed to overcome that sum total of rolling resistance is likely <5% of the total available.

FWIW,

I'd guess its actually higher, because airplane tires are typically bias ply construction, where car tires are typically radial construction.

Radial tires have less rolling resistance than bias ply tires. Bias ply tires tend to be more resilient and stronger. No one is really concerned with the fuel economy gains on take offs and landings.

(none of this really matters much if at all in relation to the question at hand, though)

 

[CloneFan65]

FWIW,

I'd guess its actually higher, because airplane tires are typically bias ply construction, where car tires are typically radial construction.

Radial tires have less rolling resistance than bias ply tires. Bias ply tires tend to be more resilient and stronger. No one is really concerned with the fuel economy gains on take offs and landings.

 

[herbicide]

Yep, I am the master of useless information, and useful information is the master of me. :biggrin:

 

[harty83]

OK, I know I am jumping into this after a lllooonnnggg debate, but I had to get in my two cents, and I apologize if any of this has been previously stated in the other thead. It seems the application of the question is whether or not the plane can overcome the force of the treadmill, which, as Mythbusters showed us, it can. However I think that the intent of the question was that if we can keep the plane stationary relative to the air around it (regardless of the speed in realtion to the ground) it would not take off. I think I have read both sides argue that it is air speed and not ground speed which causes the plane to take off, which is true. Lift can be generated with positive gound speed (obviously) zero ground speed (planes aren't tied down to prevent theft) as well as negative ground speed (if you've never seen a Piper Cub flying backwards into a stiff head wind, I highly recommend it). But with no air speed nothing happens.

 

[isuarch80]

I just wanted to say I had a post in these - you know, be a part of history - but nice picture of Cliff. Can we now discuss the Buffalo Theory?

 

[BooneCy]

If we are going to bring up my favorite old threads, like urban exploring, I thought it was appropriate to bring up my second favorite thread, Plane on a treadmill