I'd hardly call the airplane-conveyor-belt question "settled." A scientific study of the issue would use reproducible results based upon acceleration limits for both the airplane and the conveyor belt. The Mythbusters solution was to have both Jamie and the Pilot "gun it", so to speak, and let chance take care of the rest. Moreover, they used speed (for takeoff) as the essential measurement. Not helpful if both the airplane and belt are both increasing in speed at different rates. Of course a lightweight airplane accelerated faster than a *huge truck* pulling the fabric underneath (what are both of their 0-60mph times?).
comment on Helicopter On A Turntable, Apr 07