Why Fly Over the North Pole?
By DianneN
@DianneN (254926)
United States
November 3, 2017 2:10pm CST
First, let me say how relieved we are that our newlyweds have arrived safely in Hong Kong, love their beautiful hotel, grabbed a bite to eat, then went to sleep. Their time difference is 12 hours later than ours.
I always use FlightAware to track my family's flying. It tells me when they board, taxi the runway, take off, departure and arrival times, early or lateness, delays, altitude, and speed of the flight.
My favorite is watching the flight path. You can't see all of it here, but the flight from New York to Hong Kong is one of the world's most scenic routes. The flight arcs up and over the North Pole before descending down over Russia and China to Hong Kong.
It is faster by two hours.
It is a smoother flight than over the ocean.
It saves fuel by dropping to 10,000 feet, since the fuel would either freeze much higher or the aircraft would use more.
Dropping to 10,000 feet also offers a bright and spectacular view, providing one isn't sound asleep.
We flew that route once, but of course I slept like a baby.
~The flight pattern has shown up in reverse, but I'm sure you get the gist~
32 people like this
31 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
3 Nov 17
Sounds fantastic Dianne! Glad they arrived safe
5 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40845)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Nov 17
@DianneN - I am sure they are going to have a fabulous honeymoon! We like to use FlightAware when our family members are traveling, too. It is an easy way for us to know what is going on, without bugging them! LOL
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40845)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Nov 17
@DianneN - I'm sure you will behave yourself ... although it will be tempting to bug them! 
Yes, we love WhatsApp, too, and also love communicating through Facebook and texts. It is so much easier and cheaper to communicate today than it was when we were young and traveling a lot. My parents were lucky if they ever heard from us when we were traveling! 
Yes, we love WhatsApp, too, and also love communicating through Facebook and texts. It is so much easier and cheaper to communicate today than it was when we were young and traveling a lot. My parents were lucky if they ever heard from us when we were traveling! 1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
4 Nov 17
@DeborahDiane I agree that times are much easier and cheaper for communication. My parents would receive a postcard if they were lucky. 
. Long distance calls were only made on Sundays at 5:00pm sharp unless it was an emergency.
. Long distance calls were only made on Sundays at 5:00pm sharp unless it was an emergency.2 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
4 Nov 17
Isn't it wonderful? My son and I also use WhatsApp. We can call each other from anywhere in the world, text, and send photos. Facebook and texts are also wonderful. It sure beats traveling like in the old days. I hope I don't bug them on their honeymoon!!!!
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Nov 17
I have heard flying over the pole is faster and easier on the plane. I didn't know they dropped down to 10,000 feet. That would really result in spectacular views, granted if you're awake to see them. I'm glad they arrived safely. I thought though they would be 12 hours ahead of us, not behind us. Good to know.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
3 Nov 17
That's neat you can track! Is it a website or an app? :) Glad the newly weds made it to their destination safely and I am sure they'll have lots of fun!!
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
5 Nov 17
@DianneN Oh I see =) that's awesome! I am going to let my sister know if she hasn't done it already.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Nov 17
That does sound like a fascinating route. I have never flown to Asia so I have not experienced it. I don't anticipate any long flights in our future.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Nov 17
@DianneN Al really doesn't like long flights and with the Parkinson's it gets less likely to happen all the time not to mention terrorism. But your right, one never does know what may come up.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 Nov 17
@BelleStarr I assumed you were thinking of Al. Don't mention terrorism. I'm a wreck for the kids!
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69174)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Nov 17
@DianneN I'm glad I am hilarious. Neither my husband or I have smart phones. Half the time our flip phones do not get service. We don't stream or whatever that is called. So yeah, we are in the dark ages and that includes my car. Nothing electric there, either except for the computer that is inside its hood.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Nov 17
That is quite interesting about the flight path. I'm glad that they arrived safely.
2 people like this
@YrNemo (20254)
•
7 Nov 17
@DianneN Isn't physics part of science? Wow, geography might have helped lots too I guess. I read books written by some air hostess who used to be a member from the Women's Royal Airforce, they quoted info related to flights here there in a very cool manner too. (You reminded me suddenly of my favorite one. )
)
@LeaPea2417 (40029)
• Toccoa, Georgia
4 Nov 17
That is amazing! I never would have thought it would fly over the North Pole on the way to Hong Kong. I really thought the plane would go straight over the Pacific. I learn something new everyday!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Nov 17
First, it's nice to hear that they made it safely! It's always a relief to hear/see that someone made it to their destination on a flight.
Speaking of north pole flights, did you also know that all of our intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs, or our nukes as some people call them) all fly over the north pole to reach their intended targets in Russia and China (or whoever it is we want to wipe off the face of the earth)? Russia's nukes will also fly over the north pole to hit us.
Funny how North Korea is going to do things the hard way and try to design their missiles to fly over the ocean to hit us! I guess they don't want their nukes to accidentally fall out of the sky and hit China or Russia! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Nov 17
@DianneN They haven't gotten that far in their technology yet, but they are getting closer and closer. The longer we sit back and do nothing, the faster they are going to get the technology necessary to send missiles to the continental USA.
