An airplane on a treadmill: will it take off?

[Mich the Tester]

The poll answers reflect the correct answer. It will take off or not take off depending on how you interpret the question. That is:

(i)The plane could of course take off if you don't care about it matching the speed of the treadmill, this is unlike how treadmills are usually used, and the treadmill is a red herring. You would need a bit more power to take off than usual.
(ii) The plane will not lift off the treadmill if their speeds match (i.e. if the plane is stationary on the moving treadmill) as there is no lift on the wings.

What if the aeroplane is strapped to a very heavy treadmill?

[TimberWolf]

What if the aeroplane is strapped to a very heavy treadmill?

I only covered the two most likely interpretations.

[Mich the Tester]

I only covered the two most likely interpretations.

Ever tried to pick up a treadmill?

Fooking heavy those things.

[threaded]

What if the aeroplane is strapped to a very heavy treadmill?

Apparently the Fieseler Storch took off even though it was grossly overloaded.

[TimberWolf]

Ever tried to pick up a treadmill?

Fooking heavy those things.

I'm okay at deadlifts, but not so good at clean and press.

[minestrone]

I thought the question was "...if the speed of the treadmill was the same as the speed of the plane"

Anyway, it would take off if it was doing 10 times the speed of the plane as the wheels makes the plane and the treadmill isloated systems.

[gingerjedi]

The poll answers reflect the correct answer. It will take off or not take off depending on how you interpret the question. That is:

(i)The plane could of course take off if you don't care about it matching the speed of the treadmill, this is unlike how treadmills are usually used, and the treadmill is a red herring. You would need a bit more power to take off than usual.
(ii) The plane will not lift off the treadmill if their speeds match (i.e. if the plane is stationary on the moving treadmill) as there is no lift on the wings.

In answer to (ii) it won't take off if the thrust is only enough to counteract the treadmill friction of the wheels but assuming normal conditions and the fact that aircraft wheels are designed to have little friction any aircraft should be able to overcome the treadmill with ease no mater how fast it went, the only limiting factor is how fast the wheels could turn before they disintegrate.

Imagine standing on a treadmill with a pair of roller skates on, would it take a lot of effort to hold onto the side and keep stationary? Now someone gives you a rope to hold whilst they pull, would it take much effort on their part to pull you forward?

[TimberWolf]

In answer to (ii) it won't take off if the thrust is only enough to counteract the treadmill friction of the wheels but assuming normal conditions and the fact that aircraft wheels are designed to have little friction any aircraft should be able to overcome the treadmill with ease no mater how fast it went, the only limiting factor is how fast the wheels could turn before they disintegrate.

Imagine standing on a treadmill with a pair of roller skates on, would it take a lot of effort to hold onto the side and keep stationary? Now someone gives you a rope to hold whilst they pull, would it take much effort on their part to pull you forward?

If the plane is going at the same speed as the treadmill, i.e. it is not moving with respect to the ground, it has no airspeed and will not take off.

[Churchill]

One of my favourite aircraft, the Fieseler Storch, was once landed on a tennis court to rescue Mussolini, and then took off again with him on board.

Now, one must admit that he was even fatter than Churchill, so a treadmill would not be too much to carry.

Oi fatso, nice try! Yow is considerably more fatterer than me.

[ASB]

Ah but that is lift in the form of thrust from the Pegasus engine, not lift created by difference in air pressure created by the distance the air has to travel over the surface of a wing compared with that travelling under it.

Quite. But VTOL wasn't excluded by the question was it?