View Full Version : Why the planes when the make an overseas trip from Northamerica go up to
Arturo
08-17-2007, 12:20 PM
the north instead of a straight line? Most of the time In a trip to Japan or Europe the airplane describe a kind of eliptichal pathern going north instead of going in a straight line, fewer time the airplane follows a stright pattern, Why happen that?.
Figato
08-17-2007, 06:50 PM
It is a straight line. You're looking at a map when you should be looking at a globe. Find a globe and stretch a string from your North American origin to your overseas destination, and I'll bet it follow the same path you're talking about.
jeannie165
08-17-2007, 08:00 PM
I don't know for sure, but my guess is that it probably has to do with wind patterns. If they flew in a straight line, they'd probably end up further south than they wanted. Better to fly north and then come down to where you want.Edit* Yeah...like I said, just a guess. I like the other answer better. ;)
sjpadilla1
08-17-2007, 09:20 PM
I agree completely with Figato, but would like to add one thing. Sometimes, traffic gets into the jet stream to save fuel and time. This is seasonal and moves north and south.P.S. Jeannie barely beat me to this, and she is correct as well.
BESAUSE OF THE JET STREAMS!!~! Jet streams are areas where the wind helps the plane fly faster...usually located in the NOrth near Greenland.
Madkins007
08-18-2007, 02:50 AM
The shortest distance between two points on a spinning globe is not always what might look like a straight line on a map.The best route will be what is called a Great Circle- a path that would go around the world if you kept following it. On a globe, use a tape measure or something to go around the globe in such a way that it connects the two points. That is usually the best pathway to follow- assuming you don't need to stop for fuel, etc. en route! Now- look at the places your tape measure goes over, and plot it on a typical flat map, and it will make a big curved line that will look really funny.(Just for fun, take the flat map and chart the path, then recreate the path on the globe. You will usually find that the path is no longer straight or short! This is more noticeable for longer distances)Of course, it might also just be because they often stop in Iceland or Alaska for fuel and supplies!