will it take off?

[RobS]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

I enjoy watching the show and always learn something from it. I can usually think of a scenerio that they didn't look into or try, but most of the time, they are way ahead of me. There knowledge and skill level is exceptional.

I'm at a loss to the reason for your post or the link? Is there something special about that episode? Why link to the TV Listings for the show?

Eddie

Eddie, don't you remember the loooooong thread on the airplane/treadmill a while back? I think it was almost as long as your lake thread!

 

[ray66v]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

Some of the things they do [on Myth Busters], are a foregone conclusion. Many of the "Myths" would not require anymore effort than asking someone who has experience with the thing in question. [i.e. penny on a helicopter rotor blade] Anyone who owns or maintains a helicopter could have solved that one. Same thing with "Airplane on a tread mill".
I enjoy Myth Busters, I find the show very entertaining (most of the time). I just wish they would hire a least 1 person who can help them be more scientific in their approaches to the "myths" they test that are worth while. This would certainly reduce the amount of mail challenging their results which they occasionally complain about.

 

[RobS]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

Here ya go Eddie:

Conveyor search

 

[EddieWalker]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

I'm at a loss to the reason for your post or the link? Is there something special about that episode? Why link to the TV Listings for the show?

Eddie

Rob,

Thank you for the link. I missed that thread and had never heard of this before. It's interesting to read the different theories and how everyone justifies their position.

Now I'll watch the episode with a new perspective based on what I've learned here on TBN!!!

Eddie

 

[turnkey4099]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

I enjoy watching the show and always learn something from it. I can usually think of a scenerio that they didn't look into or try, but most of the time, they are way ahead of me. There knowledge and skill level is exceptional.

I'm at a loss to the reason for your post or the link? Is there something special about that episode? Why link to the TV Listings for the show?

Eddie

considering all the bandwidth that was wasted on the discussion in the past I figured it might be of interest. If you aren't (interested that is), just ignore it.

As to the TV listings? I sorta figured people just miiiggghtt like to check the times.

Harry K

 

[SPYDERLK]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

It's here! They are doing it on Jan 30 and Jan 31. Should be interesting.

Discovery Channel :: TV Listings :: MythBusters

Harry K

It will be interesting to see if they will go to the length of mentally extrapolating to the situation that theoretically would keep the plane from moving/flying, as we did in the "Will it take off" thread.
larry

 

[rback33]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

I have my DVR set to record the episode as I plan to watch the Big 12 showdown between Kansas and Kansas State. It sounds funny to call it a showdown... Anyway, I am as interested in the setup of the experiment as much as the outcome. Should make for a good show and put a historical TBN thread to rest.

 

[RobS]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

I have my DVR set to record the episode as I plan to watch the Big 12 showdown between Kansas and Kansas State. It sounds funny to call it a showdown... Anyway, I am as interested in the setup of the experiment as much as the outcome. Should make for a good show and put a historical TBN thread to rest.

To rest?!? Surely you jest!!! After the show, we will have to critique their test methodology and debate the validity of the outcome. This could go on for years! I don't have cable/satelite so someone will have to summarize for us backwards folks.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

To rest?!? Surely you jest!!! After the show, we will have to critique their test methodology and debate the validity of the outcome. This could go on for years! ...

DITTO! DITTO!

 

[RobJ]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

One of my favorite lines I have saved on DVR...

"...I did what any boy would make蓉h, what am I allowed to call it, a plasma sword?容xcept, instead of a limited beam of pure plasma, it's soda! "

From the mentos/soda show of course.

And of course a quick google...and you can see it on You Tube!!

YouTube - Mythbusters Lightsaber

 

[tommu56]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

All right who's watching?

tom

 

[MrJimi]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

No Discovery here

 

[tommu56]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

For the record Mith Busted as they say on TV!

The model plane took off from the conveyor belt.

The pilot of the ultra light thought he woulden't take off.

When they tested it the plane took off.

tom

 

[tallyho8]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

The mythbusters did OK in proving the plane would take off but I like my experiment better.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ke-off-76.html?highlight=conveyor#post1102128

 

[RonMar]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

For the record Mith Busted as they say on TV!

The model plane took off from the conveyor belt.

The pilot of the ultra light thought he woulden't take off.

When they tested it the plane took off.

tom

They did an excellent job of explaining why the conveyor or treadmill didn't impede the aircraft's takeoff by using the model car. Jamie summarized it perfectly, the aircraft engine dosn't power the wheels.

I was very surprised that their pilot didn't think it would work. The only difference in his takeoff was that his wheel RPM on the moving belt was twice what it normally was... The airplane dosn't care what the ground is doing, it is only interested in airspeed over the wings.

This messes up pilots every now and then who aren't used to flying in the wind, or don't have their head in the game. While flying downwind in the traffic patern close to the ground, they get the impression of flying very fast(their airspeed + the wind speed) past the trees/terrain. Faster than they are used to when flying this pattern in a no-wind situation. An inexperienced pilot, or one who is not very well trained will follow his instincts and perception of traveling too fast and slow down to what seems a more normal pattern speed. This happens usually about the time they have to start their crosswind turn toward the runway to land. In slowing down, they bring the airspeed close to the stall speed and the added loading of the turn causes the aircraft to stall or perhaps even spin. Not having much altitude to recover and being completely surprised by the event, they usually crash. An experienced or well trained pilot will know to disregard the trees blurring by below the aircraft and fly the appropriate indicated airspeed.

 

[MrJimi]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

I missed this but where did the airspeed/airflow come from? did they have a fan or something?
Thanks

 

[scesnick]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

The only reson BOTH planes took off from the conveyor belt was because they both simply overcame the speed of the tarp, moved forward and began getting wind under the wings producing lift.

I thought the myth was if the plane could take off while PRECISELY matching the conveyor speed. Any knuckle head could have told you that if the plane goes faster than the conveyor and gets air under its wings, it is going to fly.

So, why did the Myth Busters take the time to find the take off speed if they were not going to match the planes takeoff speed with the conveyor? Wasn't the whole to get the plane to sit still and the conveyor moving at the takeoff speed?

 

[RayH]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

They did match tak off speed, but it really doesnt matter. The whole "conveyor" question is a red herring. It doesnt matter what speed the conveyor is going. It could be going three times the planes speed beckwards, it could be going mach 7 beckwards or the speed of light, it doesnt matter because the conveyor speed has absolutely nothing what so ever to do with whether or not the plane takes off. The only thing that allows or doesnt allow the plane to take off is airspeed and that is a product of the prop pulling the plane forward in relation to the air, not in relation to the ground or the conveyor.

 

[scesnick]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

Ray,

I understand totally what you are saying now. The only thing that the conveyor speed does is spin the wheels on the airplane faster, the plane is still going to move forward no matter what since it is driven by the prop.

So, if the take off speed is say 100 mph and the conveyor is going say 50 MPH. the wheels on the airplane are going to be turning at a rate of 150 MPH but the plane is only going 100 mph at the time of lift off.

BUT, if somehow the plane was driven by the wheels, then the senerio would be totally different. If the takeoff speed was matched by the conveyor, then the plane would just be sitting still ( with the wheels spinning) but no air would be going under the wings to acheive flight because the only thing moving on the plane IS the wheels.

 

[rback33]

Re: Mythbusters/airplane/treadmill

As stated, I watched Kansas State put the kabosh to previously unbeaten Kansas last night and have not gone back to watch the episode. That will be a project for THIS evening. I had no doubt that the plane would take off though. So.. did anyone go resurrect the old thread yet? lmao Surely there must be a thousand or more "I told you so's" in order...