Can the Plane Take-Off?

[Kit Gerhart]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

The answer most certainly can be determined by the laws of physics.

All planes move by reacting with the air, either through propellers or jet engines. The speed of the ground under the wheels has almost nothing to do with the speed of the plane down the runway.

In this case, the plane would accelerate down the runway, and the 'runway' would accelerate in the other direction. The plane would still take off more or less normally, the only effect being the wheels will be spinning twice as fast as they normally would when it leaves the ground.

Hey that was easy, we settled the argument on CD in one post! :^)

There is a high probability, though, that the tires would fly apart before the airplane took off, and this could cause very bad consequences.