Flying with Cathay Cargo

[Splitpin]

I've spent the last four hours "flying " with Captain Obet on a Hong Kong / Alaska flight (747-8F) thanks to Just Planes, and $50.00NZD....Check it out, its worth it.
Obet is a superb presenter, I have a whole new appreciation of these long haul flight crews. These people...and some are among us...really earn their money.
During the presentation Obet recalls his journey from DC-3's to 747's.
Like all the other Just Plane offerings, this is packed with detailed explanations of all the aircraft systems and more....I love it.
I'm off to fly with one of the last 707 operators now (CAC) ...catch up soon

[Charl]

Marty you are a true devotee of the spirit of flight...Comrade.

[Splitpin]

Thank you Charl
Now here's a question for you, during the Cathay Cargo presentation Captain Obet mentioned briefly at some point between Anchorage and Hong Kong that "this was one of those flights where the sun would be in the same spot for about 6 hours"
How can that be ?

[cowpatz]

Thank you Charl
Now here's a question for you, during the Cathay Cargo presentation Captain Obet mentioned briefly at some point between Anchorage and Hong Kong that "this was one of those flights where the sun would be in the same spot for about 6 hours"
How can that be ?

It would be due to a combination of track, speed, latitude and the fact that the flight is in the same direction as the the sun appears to “be moving”. Ie. Westerly direction ad flying towards a setting sun.

[Splitpin]

Thank you Charl
Now here's a question for you, during the Cathay Cargo presentation Captain Obet mentioned briefly at some point between Anchorage and Hong Kong that "this was one of those flights where the sun would be in the same spot for about 6 hours"
How can that be ?

It would be due to a combination of track, speed, latitude and the fact that the flight is in the same direction as the the sun appears to “be moving”. Ie. Westerly direction ad flying towards a setting sun.

Thanks CP ....I guessed it was something like that , but cleared up nicely , thank you Sir.

[Charl]

I expected CP to have the answer, straight off the cuff.
But this didn't stop me delving a little.



At the equator the earth is whirring around at 1600km/h or so.
Unless you are Concorde, you don't go fast enough to beat the sun.
But as you go further north, the earth beneath doesn't need to go as fast to make its 24h full rotation.

If you're a 747 you can cruise say, 933km/h.
At what latitude does that match the earth, going the other way beneath?
56 degrees, as it happens.

Anchorage sits a little higher, at 61 degrees.
HK is much lower at 22 deg.
But going to HK much of your flight beats the sun.
It would actually yoyo a little but looking out the window I can well imagine that for 6 hours its pretty much where you left it!

[Splitpin]

Charl between you and CP , its the most splendiferous reply to any question I've ever asked...don't you just love this forum.