That's one huge ****ing treadmill.

If the wheels are freewheeling, nothing.

A plane on a treadmill will only achieve flight if there is sufficient airflow over the wings to generate the requisite amount of lift. That can only be achieved by the wings moving through the air, or a sufficient gust of wind blowing over the wings (not normal).

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Correct. So, now let's add thrust from the propeller into the mix. In the case of the second scenario, the aircraft actually gets some benefit from the forward motion of the treadmill. However, it is not enough to have the plane magically launch of the treadmill without sufficient ground speed.

Agree?

Dude. The thrust from the engines will create said airflow. REGARDLESS of what the wheels are doing.

I believe the original question prefaced it was a propeller plane. No Jet Engines.

The point being that the propeller creates airflow, not the engine, sorry.

Dont know if this even has anything to do with anything though. This question makes my head hurt. I want to agree with you, but I also dont.

Its sort of like when you are looking at a drawing of a cube, and you cant tell which side is the top...it keeps switching.

You're not explaining yourself well at all. All that is required for flight is for a sufficient amount of air to be moving over the control surfaces of the aircraft. Ground speed is irrelevant.

But how can there be airflow over the wings, if the airplane is not moving compared to the ground?

You were actually in my top five before I decided to go with people I've never met.

I've already stated that. Re-read. Anyway, we are discussing a plane on the ground, so barring a really big gust of wind, the ground speed is rather relevant.

It wouldn't. But theoretically if the air was moving across the control surfaces, as in a wind tunnel, flight would be achieved. The propeller alone would not supply enough air movement.

It's not really interesting enough to do that.

It's the same reason aircraft carriers turn into the wind to launch aircraft. Less relative speed of the aircraft is required in order to achieve lift.

I'd say if you're on my friends list you're pretty cool in my book, although i'd say most on here would be cool to have a brew with