Can the Plane Take-Off?

[nuggetsyl]

Originally Posted by dlavery

If you still think that the plane will not take off, then think through this: imagine exactly the same stating conditions. The airplane engines ramp up to full thrust. If you are assuming that the airplane (relative to an off-conveyor observing position) is "standing still" the explain the following: the pilot quickly retracts the landing gear, so the airplane is no longer in contact with the conveyor belt, the engines are still at full thrust, and the airplane is at zero velocity relative to the ground. What happens next? When you try to reconcile this self-conflicting condition, you will realize that in the original problem, the airplane takes off.

-dave

I will have to disagree. Engines at full power means nothing. If you retract the landing gear you will crash the plane because your air speed is 0. Many people are confusing ground speed with air speed. If air is not going over the wings you can not lift a plane off the ground plain and simple.