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Plonkywonk

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Plonkywonk
I'm amazed nobody else has considered runways that move. Why not have a shorter runway made from the same basic stuff and design as escalators except it is a flat surface on the top. Then spool up and get the aircraft up to speed and launch them. This would solve a lot of space problems in the city. Don't you think? Is maybe the tech not ready for that kinds of speed?
 
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Takeoffs in short spaces aren't the problem (check google JATO and RATO), and the tech has been around since the 60's

afaca6fd059f7c40d6c9501f9cd83173.jpg


It's landings that eat up the available floor space.
 
Plonkywonk said:
I'm amazed nobody else has considered runways that move. Why not have a shorter runway made from the same basic stuff and design as escalators except it is a flat surface on the top. Then spool up and get the aircraft up to speed and launch them. This would solve a lot of space problems in the city. Don't you think? Is maybe the tech not ready for that kinds of speed?
Click to expand...

You mean like a catapult?

Been done for a long time on aircraft carriers. Passengers won't like several G's for a few seconds.

Speed is not the issue. It's acceleration.
 
I think he means like a treadmill.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Takeoffs in short spaces aren't the problem (check google JATO and RATO), and the tech has been around since the 60's

It's landings that eat up the available floor space.
Click to expand...
Early JATO test -- on an Ercoupe:

georgependle1_figure_3a.jpg


They are a bit noisy, though. Neighbors might be prone to complain. By that I mean neighboring states. :hairraise:
 
MAKG1 said:
You mean like a catapult?

Been done for a long time on aircraft carriers. Passengers won't like several G's for a few seconds.
Click to expand...

Though with the various thrill park ride like the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, the sheeple public are getting acquainted with the idea.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Though with the various thrill park ride like the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, the sheeple public are getting acquainted with the idea.
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And many of the guests at Cedar Point won't go near that. BTDT. Out of a party of 12 I was there with, 4 got on that ride (including me).

More than 2-3 G's gets very uncomfortable for the untrained. WELL before that, airliner passengers will spill their drinks.
 
Didn't mythbusters do a show about airplanes on a treadmill?
 
AggieMike88 said:
Takeoffs in short spaces aren't the problem (check google JATO and RATO), and the tech has been around since the 60's

afaca6fd059f7c40d6c9501f9cd83173.jpg


It's landings that eat up the available floor space.
Click to expand...

"The Flying Boxcar" C-119. Remember them when my dad was in the USAF. They had a gunship version after the AC-47 in Vietnam that were called AC-119s.

The C-130 "Fat Albert" that the Blue Angels use used to have a JATO takeoff demo but they're running out of rocket bottles. Saw them last year and "Fat Albert" didn't do the JATO demo.
 
Lol.

I guess we haven't had a 'plane on a treadmill' thread in a while.
 
Pilawt said:
Early JATO test -- on an Ercoupe:

georgependle1_figure_3a.jpg


They are a bit noisy, though. Neighbors might be prone to complain. By that I mean neighboring states. :hairraise:
Click to expand...

Heck....

I can do that WITHOUT JATO's....:yes:
 
Some very misinformed comments here! We're talking momentum transfer here. I did some tests with a model airplane and proved this technique works but only if we can sustain the speeds required for take off.
 
I will add my 2 cents...

You can make the wheels go a gazillion miles an hour but how does that move air past the wings...?
 
Plonkywonk said:
Some very misinformed comments here! We're talking momentum transfer here. I did some tests with a model airplane and proved this technique works but only if we can sustain the speeds required for take off.
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I'd like to see a video of these "tests", cause either you're a troll, or you're the misinformed one.

If you want to take off in a short space without modifying the aircraft you don't need to make the runway move, you need to make the air move. Good luck with that.
 
I think the tech isn't ready for this kind of speed.
Maybe one day...
 
I like the old fashion way... full throttle, check the guages, blah blah rotate.
 
FlySince9 said:
YES they did, and NO, it didn't work...
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So they built a full size device similar to what I described? 150 feet wide and 500 feet long? Able to move the surface at 150 knots? No? Well then NO they DID NOT and they cannot prove it didn't work.

Don't believe everything you watch on TV.

Ever heard of boundary layer? Cushion of air? Really think the air above the "treadmill" as you call it is not moving?
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I think the tech isn't ready for this kind of speed.
Maybe one day...
Click to expand...

You're probably right unfortunately.

We can only hope the kinks get worked out and the tech wizards figure out the tech.
 
Plonkywonk said:
Ever heard of boundary layer? Cushion of air? Really think the air above the "treadmill" as you call it is not moving?
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I'm not so sure you have any understanding of how a boundary layer works....

But I also think you're a troll so that's cool too.
 
(Sigh)
 
Even better idea - since the earth is rotating about it's axis and the resulting speed at the equator reaches 1000mph (less so at north american latitudes but still plenty fast for most GA aircraft), why not just point all the runways into the direction of rotation and use that rotational velocity to get a head start??? :D

Count me as one who believes OP is trolling.
 
Plonkywonk said:
So they built a full size device similar to what I described? 150 feet wide and 500 feet long? Able to move the surface at 150 knots? No? Well then NO they DID NOT and they cannot prove it didn't work.

Don't believe everything you watch on TV.

Ever heard of boundary layer? Cushion of air? Really think the air above the "treadmill" as you call it is not moving?
Click to expand...

Ok, so you didn't see it but you dismiss it...

You know nothing of aerodynamics (obviously)... Not worth the time... see ya!
 
Plonkywonk said:
So they built a full size device similar to what I described? 150 feet wide and 500 feet long? Able to move the surface at 150 knots? No? Well then NO they DID NOT and they cannot prove it didn't work.

Don't believe everything you watch on TV.

Ever heard of boundary layer? Cushion of air? Really think the air above the "treadmill" as you call it is not moving?
Click to expand...

https://youtu.be/0ul_5DtMLhc
 
Wrench978 said:
https://youtu.be/0ul_5DtMLhc
Click to expand...

Uh, I didn't see a "treadmill" or anything remotely like I'm talking about. I saw a plane getting pulled by a truck on a piece of canvas. So what does that have anything to do with my invention? Nothing.

I think it could work.

And the rest of you with your not so funny memes? If you don't have a coherent argument I'm not impressed by your ability to google some stupid meme. Like this. Oh, clever me. :rolleyes:



5db6777f600e844e7be06cd1fa93cdcf4aa81f863cc4c01b829fd071aa2efeef.jpg
 
RudyP said:
Even better idea - since the earth is rotating about it's axis and the resulting speed at the equator reaches 1000mph (less so at north american latitudes but still plenty fast for most GA aircraft), why not just point all the runways into the direction of rotation and use that rotational velocity to get a head start??? :D.
Click to expand...

Hey! You're a genius! You're on to something! Why get on a treadmill? Just face West and your jogging at 1000 mph.

Nice logic there pal.

I'm done here.
 
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