But the thing is that he didn't 'sit there like a brick'. The aircraft accelerated from its original position down the 'belt' and reached flying speed. All I saw being demonstrated was that the plane had enough thrust to overcome the rearward 'belt' movement and then move forward fast enough to reach flying speed.

This subject is being debated on numerous aviation forums right now with widely divergent views.

For me, the idea was pretty simple. If sufficient airflow over the wing wasn't there, then the plane wasn't going to fly. With no movement of the plane and therefore no airflow, how was this thing supposed to lift off?