Plane on a Treadmill Rerun on Mythbusters

[NickH]

And the third group, who thinks the treadmill is very long, and that the plane actually moves forward on the treadmill rather than being held still (by ropes or whatever), to prevent it moving off the treadmill.

[Clocks]

Originally Posted by NickH

And the third group, who thinks the treadmill is very long, and that the plane actually moves forward on the treadmill rather than being held still (by ropes or whatever), to prevent it moving off the treadmill.

I wouldn't consider the proven correct answer to be a dissenting opinion

[NickH]

It's an opinion on interpretation of the question, rather than the answer, which we all know.

The first and third groups, in my opinion, both interpret the question in equally valid ways, and come to equally valid answers, based on their different interpretations, and it's here that most of the argument occurs.

For the record, I fall into the third and more popular group, and said fly, but I actually listened to the first group, and respect their perspective, rather than immediately assuming they're group 2'ers, and trying to lecture them about airspeed.

[Doug Taylor]

All I gotta say is that every time we have this "debate" as adults, there's a 8 year old kid in New Delhi that's flabbergasted that the biggest, baddest, most technological country on Earth has adults that can't quite crack the code.

[Firebird2XC]

What I wanna know is...

... flight or no- are there


SNAKES ON THE PLANE?


... and does that matter?

Because in the movie's case, it definitely never really took off.

[SIUav8er]

Originally Posted by tonyw

I think the Mythbusters guys said it best.

For some reason people just can't get their head around the idea that the plane's engine doesn't send power to the wheels, it sends power to the propeller.

What also surprises me is that the pilot who was flying the plane didn't think the plane would move. Very disappointing, but not surprising given some of the responses on this board.

And I'm also surprised that people are still arguing about it. It's still being hotly "debated" on the Mythbusters site!

Uh, hello, they put a plane on a treadmill and the plane took off. What more do you want?

Are you serious!?

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by SIUav8er

Are you serious!?

I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.