Will it take off?

[D_Mike]

A helicopter is standing on a runway that can move (some sort of band conveyer). The helicopter moves in one direction, while the conveyer moves in the opposite direction. This conveyer has a control system that tracks the helicopter speed and tunes the speed of the conveyer to be exactly the same (but in opposite direction).

The question is:

Will the helicopter take off or not?

[sstein]

-

Stuart

[Frik]

Vertical moving conveyor belt?

Good example though.

[Lois]

What if it's a Nova with cardboard wings?

[D_Mike]

that won't work becuase the wheels are driven so it won't get any speed relative to the air like the plane would.

[Frik]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Then it's not a helicopter

[turbobloke]

D_Mike said:

A helicopter is standing on a runway that can move (some sort of band conveyer). The helicopter moves in one direction, while the conveyer moves in the opposite direction. This conveyer has a control system that tracks the helicopter speed and tunes the speed of the conveyer to be exactly the same (but in opposite direction). The question is: Will the helicopter take off or not?

Not without a pilot

Just one minor point, if it hasn't taken off already the friction between the helicopter and the runway or giant conveyor belt must be fairly small! You seem to have it sliding along the ground?

As to take-off, helicopters don't need lateral movement...the downward reaction force from the rotors is at right angles to the (presumed) motion in the question... as such it can be considered independently...never seen a helicopter have problems launching from a carrier depending on which way it's facing...so yes.

[paulie-mafia]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[D_Mike]

what if the helicopter was on a conveyor belt which did a loop the loop.

[turbobloke]

What if the conveyor belt was a mobius strip?

[D_Mike]

that would be pretty cool.

[Frik]

D_Mike said:

what if the helicopter was on a conveyor belt which did a loop the loop.

Don't be silly - helicopters can't loop the loop!

[paulie-mafia]

Frik said:

D_Mike said: what if the helicopter was on a conveyor belt which did a loop the loop. Don't be silly - helicopters can't loop the loop!

Yes they can! I'm no expert, but I'm sure I've seen it done at an airshow before now. It's something to do with the pitch of the rotor and, while it's not exactly a big graceful arc as per a plane, it has been done!

So there!

[jacobyte]

Frik said:

D_Mike said: what if the helicopter was on a conveyor belt which did a loop the loop. Don't be silly - helicopters can't loop the loop!

I beg to differ...

[galileo]

oH! MY! GOD!

[galileo]

jacobyte said:

Frik said: D_Mike said: what if the helicopter was on a conveyor belt which did a loop the loop. Don't be silly - helicopters can't loop the loop! I beg to differ...

thats just upside down

[galileo]

but what happens if it its a schrodinger helicopter, maybe its not really there?

[Frik]

galileo said:

thats just upside down

Not convinced that's not on it's way to a very big accident.

[jacobyte]

It's a Lynx. They can do it .

[galileo]

yeah I know. been in one. just taking the pi*s. read the other simularly named link. give you some idea of whats going on. it will make your brain spin in your head.