How do pilots on a flat Earth navigate without constantly adjusting their course to the left or right?
Understanding the Flat Earth Belief System
Flat Earthers believe in a flat, disc-shaped Earth with the North Pole at the center. On this model, the concept of East and West is visualized as concentric circles emanating from the North Pole. These circles represent lines of latitude, which are smaller towards the North Pole and larger towards the equator. This understanding aligns with a common myth that such pilots would need to continuously adjust their flight path to compensate for the curvature of the Earth, turning left while flying eastward and right while flying westward.
Visualizing the Flat Earth Map
In the flat Earth model, the lines of latitude, which represent East and West, are not simple straight lines but concentric circling arcs. To follow a straight course of due east or due west would, in fact, involve constantly banking the aircraft. Essentially, this means that for a pilot to maintain a due east or due west course would require constant banking. However, on a flat Earth map, all routes can be represented as straight lines for pilots to follow.
Why Pilots Don't Need to Constantly Bank
From the perspective of a spherical Earth, the myth of constant banking arises because the curvature of the Earth is so gradual that pilots do not notice it. They maintain a constant altitude and, for all practical purposes, the curvature of the Earth is accounted for without their need to make constant adjustments. The visual straight-line path on a flat Earth map translates directly into a bank-free flight path on a flat Earth interpretation.
In a flat Earth framework, all such routes can be visualized as straight lines on a map, much like how pilots plot courses on a Mercator projection map of the Earth. This simplified model eliminates the need for pilots to bank continually, fostering the appearance of straight-line navigation.
Adjusting Routes on Flat Earth
Pilots on a flat Earth would choose not to bank constantly due to inefficiency in fuel and time. Flying in a straight line is faster and more fuel-efficient than following a curved, banked path. A constant latitude path, maintained by continuous banking, would be unnecessary and suboptimal. Instead, pilots would plot their direct routes as straight lines and maintain consistent altitude, much like they do on a spherical Earth.
Concluding the Discussion
The idea that pilots on a flat Earth need to constantly adjust their course is a myth propagated by flat Earthers. In reality, the gradual curvature of the Earth is invisible to pilots due to its subtle nature. On a flat Earth map, routes are represented as straight lines, eliminating the need for any constant banking to maintain a course. In both cases, the goal is to fly the most efficient and fuel-saving route possible.
Key Takeaway: The myth of constant banking does not apply to pilots on a spherical Earth or a flat Earth. The understanding of navigation on a flat Earth is different but equally valid in its context.