Mythbusters/airplane on a treadmill.

[WB9YZU]

It was a mind bender. However,

You can hover an aircraft, you just need a stiff headwind <kinda fun>
If you take off with the wind, it will take you longer to achieve the needed windspeed to take off <not so much fun>

The theory behind the experiment was flawed.
The prop produces thrust, and it's opponent is drag, not ground speed.
As long as you have a fairly friction free set of landing gear, drag is not an issue, so the equation remains thrust vs drag. Once the aircraft has achieved the required wind speed, it's gone. And that's exactly what happened.

I was suprised thy found someone with enough kahunas to put their sport plane on that rag they called a "Treadmill".

 

[Ray H]

CRAP !!!
No one had the testicle fortitude to take me up on my $300. As opinionated as Jeepers can be (you know its true), I really thought it would be an easy $300.

The best part was the pilot (with 10 years flying experience) thought his plane would not take off. It was funny and at the same time, disturbing. I wonder how many commercial pilots dont know how or why their jet flys?

 

[Lowrange2]

The best part was the pilot (with 10 years flying experience) thought his plane would not take off. It was funny and at the same time, disturbing. I wonder how many commercial pilots dont know how or why their jet flys?

That's exactly what I was thinking!

 

[JohnX]

The whole thing is about wording....they said the conveyor belt speed was kept at the planes take off speed. So all that happened was that the wheels turned twice as fast as normal. the plane went the same speed it always does.

WOW!! totally amazing. Another worthless mythbusters experiment. The way everyone was raving about it was like the plane was going to be kept stationary and magically float away. I'm getting really sick of some of their stupid experiments.

 

[FitchVA]

WOW!! totally amazing. Another worthless mythbusters experiment. The way everyone was raving about it was like the plane was going to be kept stationary and magically float away. I'm getting really sick of some of their stupid experiments.

i don't think it was worthless. just because you, me, and a group of people knew the outcome, countless others all over the net (including some on this board) couldn't wrap their heads around it. this proved it to them

 

[goodburbon]

Waterhammer may owe the RRC a c-note

 

[Captain Ron]

So when are the third graders gonna graduate to the "helicopter on a turntable" question?



--ron

 

[98XJSport]

So when are the third graders gonna graduate to the "helicopter on a turntable" question?



--ron

It will be much like this thread, they will keep going around and around and around and...

 

[Waterhammer]

Waterhammer may owe the RRC a c-note

Yeah, was waiting for that...


Although I wound up agreeing with you on page 15...

 

[Darky]

I really wish I would taken someone up on this bet...I could use some money right now...

 

[Darky]

But if you still made the bet before agreeing, can't back out now...

 

[vetteboy]

So when are the third graders gonna graduate to the "helicopter on a turntable" question?



--ron

As long as I'm making the same assumptions I think you're implying...

Depending on which way the assembly is rotating, I think you can get to a point where the helicopter will lift until it breaks friction with the turntable, at which point the air resistance will slow it down until it settles enough to regain friction, ad infinitum.

My answer becomes no, if there's atmosphere involved. With no atmospheric drag you'd be able to reach a point where the net force of the helicopter on the turntable approached zero...so "take off"...again becomes a matter of semantics.

:attom:

 

[vetteboy]

post-edit:

+5 cookie points to anyone who points out the glaring contradiction in the second half of my conclusion.

 

[Glenn B]

Is is a 78 or a 33 & 1/3rd? Or a 45? And would not centrifugal force be a bitch? :eyes: :guitar: :roflmao: :wave1: :banghead:

So when are the third graders gonna graduate to the "helicopter on a turntable" question?



--ron

 

[ZacSquatch]

Zac - I'll take payment thru paypal. I PMed you my account.

I didn't bet YOU jackass.. I bet.. who was it.

 

[Lowrange2]

I didn't bet YOU jackass.. I bet.. who was it.

BS! You did!

Edit: Ah Shit! You didn't!

 

[o2bgpn]

 

[CantonXJ]

My answer becomes no, if there's atmosphere involved. With no atmospheric drag you'd be able to reach a point where the net force of the helicopter on the turntable approached zero...so "take off"...again becomes a matter of semantics.

A helicopter that can take off in a vacuum? This I gotta see!

Dave

 

[vetteboy]

Indeed.

Hence why you get +5 bonus points.

 

[JeepFreak21]

I didn't bet YOU jackass.. I bet.. who was it.

HA! It was me!

I just watched it

Billy