An airplane on a treadmill: will it take off?

[Drewster]

I've seen a fat lass fall off a treadmill.

switched off the power and made

[Mich the Tester]

A related question, if anyone has the stamina, is whether it is easier to run on a powered treadmill than on normal unpowered ground.

Easier to run very fast for a short time; treadmill, because of reduced wind resistance.
Easier to run slowly for a long time; on the ground (as long as it isn't tarmac). I don't know why that is, it's just personal experience.

[Churchill]

switched off the power and made

You'll never prove it in a court of law, sharia or otherwise!

[Drewster]

You'll never prove it in a court of law, sharia or otherwise!

I wasn't judging you...........
I can imagine it was one of those "It would be rude not to" moments!!

[Mich the Tester]

easier on a treadmill, as mentioned, no wind-resistance. Also, most treadmills are sprung.

There is some wind resistance; the air resists the forward motion of arms and legs. Also, the fat lass on the cross trainer provides a lot of wind. However, there’s no wind resistance on the big slab like upper body of the human runner which actually makes humans inherently unsuited to running very fast compared to cats with their powerful hind legs, pointy snout and thin aerodynamic profile. Still, being silly creatures we try.

Imagine being a cat in a gymnasium; you’d spend all day laughing at all these bleeding incompetents trying to run, jump, stretch and climb.

[Churchill]

Imagine being a cat in a gymnasium; you’d spend all day laughing at all these bleeding incompetents trying to run, jump, stretch and climb.

Actually I'd be asleep dreaming of lady cats!

[original PM]

You really are a project manager, aren't you?

Rearrange the following words...

"got f**king you clue a have not"

Having actually piloted a plane I do have a clue (I can also re-arrange words gifted huh!)

Evidently as I am posting on here it was a succesful piloting mission also - poroving I have at least a rudimentary grasp of aerodynamics

How would a treadmill keep a plane stationary? I'd bet that even with the brakes on, the force of the engines would be enough to overcome any backwards force being exerted via the wheels. Without the brakes the wheels would just turn backwards as the plane moved forwards.

Note I used the term "theoritcal treadmill" and assigned it the relervant propoerties needed to get my point across.


So anyway the plane takes off because the treadmill makes has no effect on the ability of the plane to move forward through the air and thus the pressure differential on the wings is sufficent to provide lift.

Now back to licking your balls/driving your family saloon.

[Moscow Mule]

A related question, if anyone has the stamina, is whether it is easier to run on a powered treadmill than on normal unpowered ground.

If you set your treadmill to a 2% incline, this mirrors the extra effort required to actually move you along a real road.

[BoredBloke]

Runways aren't just used for take-off!

In the words of Dave Gunson - "you can have as many take-offs as you like, they're free. We only charge for landings!"

But they could inread of building a new runway at heathrow build a couple of large treadmills and the other old style runways could be used for landings only.

Tony in 'I've saved Sipson' mode

[TimberWolf]

If you set your treadmill to a 2% incline, this mirrors the extra effort required to actually move you along a real road.

Is there a decline % that allows you to run impressively fast in the gym without effort? On a bike you can calculate rolling resistance like this.