rotation of the earth
 

Does the rotation of the earth affect airplane flight times?

rotation of the earth
 

On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:28:44 -0800, bob wrote:

Does the rotation of the earth affect airplane flight times?

Yes.

Stef

rotation of the earth
 

bob wrote:
Does the rotation of the earth affect airplane flight times?

Northern or southern hemisphere?

--
K.

Lang may your lum reek.

rotation of the earth
 

"Bob":
Does the rotation of the earth affect airplane flight times?

Not directly. But taken together with the pattern of heat from
the Sun and the properties of the atmosphere, the Earth's rotation
indirectly causes semi-permanent wind patterns such as prevailing
winds and jet streams. And wind does affect the flight time, because
the airplane's cruising speed is relative to the air. For example,
a flight from Europe to my part of North America typically takes
about a half-hour longer than the same trip the other way, due to
winds; if the Earth's rotation was reversed, it'd be shorter instead.

Of course, only the flight *to* North America is relevant to
rec.travel.usa-canada.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "This man must be very ignorant, for he answers
| every question he is asked." -- Voltaire

My text in this article is in the public domain.