How do flat Earth proponents explain a direct flight from Johannesburg, South Africa to Sydney, Australia which passes near Antarctica? (For example, flight 63, Qantas)

How do flat Earth proponents explain a direct flight from Johannesburg, South Africa to Sydney, Australia which passes near Antarctica? (For example, flight 63, Qantas)

In reality, flat Earth proponents can’t explain it. They try to say that you can’t book the flights, but that’s simply not true. I have several South African friends here in Australia who take these flights all the time. Going near Antarctica shaves time off the flights. In fact, Qantas Flight 63 from Johannesburg to Sydney is one of the most popular routes in the world.

The Route

Qantas Flight 63 is a direct flight that covers a distance of approximately 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles) and takes around 14 hours. The flight path takes the plane from Johannesburg, South Africa, over the Indian Ocean, and then over Antarctica before arriving in Sydney, Australia. The route is a great circle, which is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere.

The Flat Earth Theory

Flat Earth proponents believe that the Earth is flat and that the concept of a round Earth is a conspiracy theory. They argue that the Earth is a flat disk with the North Pole at the center and Antarctica forming a wall around the edge of the disk. According to this theory, the flight from Johannesburg to Sydney should not pass over Antarctica because it doesn’t exist.

The Reality

The reality is that the flight from Johannesburg to Sydney does pass over Antarctica. The route is a great circle, and the shortest distance between two points on a sphere is a straight line. The flight path is determined by the Earth’s curvature, which means that the plane has to follow a curved path to travel the shortest distance between the two cities.

The Science

The science behind the flight path of Qantas Flight 63 is based on the principles of spherical trigonometry. The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but an oblate spheroid, which means that it bulges at the equator and flattens at the poles. The flight path takes into account the Earth’s shape and the curvature of the Earth’s surface.

The Evidence

The evidence that the flight from Johannesburg to Sydney passes over Antarctica is overwhelming. The flight path is documented by Qantas and can be easily verified by anyone with access to a globe or a map. In addition, passengers on the flight have reported seeing the icebergs and glaciers of Antarctica from their windows.