Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum

Severe Weather Discussion => General Weather - all topics not current severe weather. => Topic started by: Peter J on 17 April 2008, 02:51:43 PM

Title: Flight paths and meteorology
Post by: Peter J on 17 April 2008, 02:51:43 PM

Richary - i think they head o/seas to africa - they usually fly extremely high altitudes - i c them fly over from time to time - also the jet-streams they leave behind (con trails) can be quite lengthy at such high levels.

Big Pete

Title: Flight paths and meteorology
Post by: Richary on 17 April 2008, 03:44:08 PM

That could be it. If I waypoint Melbourne to South Africa I get a bearing to start on at 225 degrees (roughly, didn't place the WP that accurately). Instead of the 274 degrees in a rhumb line (following the circumference of the earth which adds about 1000km).

Title: Flight paths and meteorology
Post by: James on 18 April 2008, 02:22:08 AM

Your spot on Big Pete. I flew on a flight from Sydney to Jo'burg and was intrigued when after taking off we headed straight down to Tassie. I seem to remember somewhere near or over Tassie we finally made a turn south west to west'ish. Makes sense when you look at a map of the globe - would cut a few hours and strong jet streams out of the flight. Coming home we didn't fly at such a low latitude - possibly to make use of the jet streams.