Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

Yes, 'cept on the aircraft carrier the engines are hauling ass with the conveyor belt, lol.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

What the slingshot does is give the extra forward speed needed to create the minimum amount of air movement needed to generate lift that keeps the plane aloft. It is all about air moving over the wings. It doesn't matter how you do it. As long as you do it.

Member

Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 106
Location: Indianapolis

As i heard it was the conveyor was going the opposite direction, like a treadmill. Otherwise it would be like a catapult and not much debate. Oh well.
Did you read the topic on A.net... something like 800 posts i think... wow.
I will definately watch though.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I'll watch it just to see if there is some kind of crazy accident. BTW my favorite was the 747 and the cab.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

800 posts?!?! Yeah, just try to get your word in over there, sheesh.

Member

Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 106
Location: Indianapolis

Anybody Watch?

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

I had to work, so I couldn't.

Member

Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 106
Location: Indianapolis

It took off no problems.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

So which way was the conveyor going? Was it working against the jet or going with the jet like the moving walkways in the airport? Also I assume it wasn't a stationary takeoff. Maybe its on youtube now.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

First some small-scale tests were performed with a model airplane on a treadmill and the plane was able to take off. For the large-scale test, the MythBusters used a 400 pound ultralight aircraft with a 2000 foot tarp under it. The tarp was pulled backwards to simulate a moving runway. The ultralight pilot had no trouble taking off. This is because the thrust of the airplane engines acts on the air, not on the ground.


Ok so it wasn't a takeoff in place. It still had forward movement to take off. And while it may not have had a problem taking off it would have taken more power than taking off on a regular fixed surface. This isn't the takeoff while standing in place I was picturing in my head.

Member

Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 106
Location: Indianapolis

The pilot said it took off just like any other.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

It will take off like any other because it gets airflow across the wings. It will take a little extra power because of the increased ground friction created by the moving surface.