So *that's* how it works

When Jason posted the plane on a conveyer belt riddle earlier today, I was convinced that take-off was impossible if the belt could go infinitely fast and negate any forward movement. So no movement, no air passes over the wing, and then no lift.

But Michael 's explanation makes perfect sense to me, and now I see why the plane would take off.

I think the original riddle works because I don't have a day-to-day familiarity with jet engines and watching planes take off, or giant conveyer belts for that matter, so I couldn't really wrap my head around air speed vs. ground speed. But I know how a skateboard works, and a treadmill, and a rope and it makes perfect sense.