i agree with omg (and origin) .. it is an impossible situation, as the plane will be moving forward

so have they actually done the episode or not? Seems like a waste of time to me though...

It would only stop the take-off speed if the plane got its thrust through the wheels (like a car).

This scenario would work with like, an F1 racecar for instance. If the treadmill was going ~200mph, and the car's top speed was ~200mph, it would not be able to move (not taking into account the wind factor which would actually allow the car to go above its normal top speed anyway).

Think about the plane. It interacts mostly with the air, and the air will still not be moving. Directly above a treadmill, the air isn't affected at all. Since the propellor (or whatever) will be spinning in the air, and forcing air backwards, it will push the plane forward since there is hardly any friction in the wheels (assuming they are properly lubricated)

I think it will not, have my reasons, but can't bother to explain.

wont take off, no air=no liftoff

I'm sorry, I don't seem to understand the explanaition of the myth.

We have this plane right, that is going this way:



Also, it's a jet? If it is, then I think it will take off. If it's a "traditional airplane" (definition please) I doubt it will.

Uhh, it really doesn't matter if its a jet or a prop. Its all just different means of propelling the same thing.

What matters is absoloute airspeed, and as long as it can get up to takeoff speed it will get in the air.

They're doing this myth? I would've thought it would be a no-brainer...

Maybe one of their short 5 minute ones or something...

edit: wow, some people here think it might be possible?

No forward velocity--->no lift--->no takeoff.

Now, if they were to blow a huge amount of air at a high velocity at the conveyor-belt-plane, then it would possibly work (and I can see mythbusters attempting this on a small scale, possibly)

You obviously haven't read my posts...

You need anti thrust, there is no way the treadmill or the conveyer belt can negate the thrust of the engines which is separate from the wheels.

Doesn't matter if it's a propeller or jet, the airplane is pushing against the air, not the treadmill. It will move forward and take off. There is no treadmill in the world that could move fast enough for the friction in the wheels to keep up with the thrust of the airplane, and if there were such a treadmill, it would spin the wheels so fast that the tires would explode.