Quote:
Only if the plane was bolted to the conveyor. Since it isn't, and since a plane is not propelled by its wheels, the conveyor would have no effect on the plane because it would have no effect on the thrust of its engines and therefore no effect on it forwarrd movement through the air.

It's just a simple question with the wheel business thrown in to make people forget that planes are not wheel-driven.

Direct from South Park: Nothing to see here, move along.

The problem is not that the plane is not wheel-driven, but whether or not the plane would have any forward velocity with respect to the surrounding air. The only reason a plane flies is because of the airflow around the airfoils (wings), which creates the pressure differential, which creates lift. With no velocity relative to the air, lift cannot be created. The whole problem boils down to, does this conveyor belt keep the plane stationary with respect to the air?

- Tim