Why do planes do this?
http://i.imgur.com/0elj5.png
In this case, why travel an extensive detour across the Pacific almost to the US, when the destination is already so close in a direct route? It doesn't make sense to me.
Thanks
October 6, 2012
9 Comments • Newest first
The plane is carrying passengers to China and then Sydney. Also to refuel and give the staff some rest.
Planes fly because of pressure, and global air pressure has some messed patterns.
IT IS NOT a waste of gas THEY ARE SAVING GAS... The way the wind blows up there is different than down here when the wind hits the tail wing of a plane at a certain angle in which the plane is flying it will cause the plane to move faster giving it an easier way to move, usuing LESS GAS, if they go against the wind they have to put more power into the turbines which uses more gas.... u guys are so stupid...
[quote=bloodIsShed][url=http://brokensecrets.com/2010/02/17/why-airplanes-dont-always-fly-in-straight-lines-to-their-destination/]googled[/url][/quote]
Thanks for that.
[url=http://brokensecrets.com/2010/02/17/why-airplanes-dont-always-fly-in-straight-lines-to-their-destination/]googled[/url]
[quote=Kiwiigreen]The way of Earth's rotation/winds/something like that.[/quote]
[quote=bubba127]the earth is not flat[/quote]
I still don't see how that accounts for such a great distance. Direct route is 7,537 km and this planned route is 25,416 km. That's 3.5x more distance and most of it is accumulated by that journey across the Pacific. If they were to do that, why not take a direct northern path from Sydney then west to China (considering the first North-West route is already longer than this - according to Pythagorean theorem).
EDIT: Keep in mind I have no idea about planes and their technical routes, I'm just making random stabs of suggestions
the earth is not flat
The way of Earth's rotation/winds/something like that.
to waste gas duh.