Which projection do you prefer?

If you wanted to show a map of the 10 longest flights in the world, which projection would your prefer?

Rectangular


Polar orthographic (cuts off JNB, SYD, AKL in southern hemisphere)


Azimuthal Equidistant



I think you have to have two projections

Five longest cross from Northern (DOH, DXB, SAN, DFW, ATL) to Equatorial (SIN) and Southern Hemisphere (SIN, JNB, AKL)


Next Five are Middle East to USA (LAX & IAH) via polar route

Which one has the least distortion of land masses?

Are the red lines idealized flight paths? Rhumb lines?

Quote: Fleastiff

Which one has the least distortion of land masses?

Are the red lines idealized flight paths? Rhumb lines?

I think rectangular is the least distortion of land mass.

The red lines are idealized flight paths, they actually follow great circles.

Interesting that none of them show the actual flat projection.

Since they all have distortions of varying degrees, might as well use the one with the most familiar base map.

Rectangular.

Quote: pew

Interesting that none of them show the actual flat projection.

I assume that "actual flat projection" is the same as "rectangular" which inherently distorts great circle lines that go near the arctic or antarctic.




Flights from Sydney Australia to the USA have led the way in ultra long distance nonstop flights since the 1970's. They started by going to California, and then began flying to Dallas Texas to take advantage of better connections to the East Coast flown by partner, American airlines.

LAX SYD 7,488 mi
SFO SYD 7,417 mi
DFW SYD 8,578 mi

But prior to 2014, the planes stopped in Brisbane (BNE) in case of bad weather.

2 segment path:
DFW BNE 8,303 mi
BNE SYD 467 mi
Total 8,770 mi

The newest longest nonstops are the Middle Eastern airlines who used to stop in Sydney before flying on to Auckland. The intermediate stop added about a mile to distance flown, as the original flight path went directly over Sydney, but it saves you the time to land, disembark, and take off (about 2 hours)

I vote for the rectangular one, just because it is what I'm used to.

I didn't know there were any direct flights between the US and Africa.

Quote: Fleastiff

Which one has the least distortion of land masses?

I think its the land masses that most people focus on and are familiar with, the ocean is just a blue expanse and it can be distorted if needbe.

Polar areas are of the greatest military importance but not to civilians or civilian airlines.

So.. it rectangular for my vote, but remember those explorers at the South pole who turned their globe upside down... do what is convenient for the users. If you are 'pitching' to Arabs, the center of the map should be Mecca. If you are pitching to the French, Paris is to be dead smack in the middle. If its for general use, then atleast have the countries clearly recognizable and in correct proportions. You can distort polar regions... everyone knows Australlia, New Zealand and some large icecubes are down there somewhere.

Quote: Wizard

I vote for the rectangular one, just because it is what I'm used to.

I didn't know there were any direct flights between the US and Africa.

I assume there are plenty of non-stops between the East Coast and Cairo, Egypt?

Quote: Ayecarumba

I assume there are plenty of non-stops between the East Coast and Cairo, Egypt?

That, at least from Egypt's national airline.

Also South Africa has been a destination for a while.

Lately Delta's been flying to the central parts of Africa as well. And I assume Pan Am flew to Africa because it flew everywhere. When it went kaput, other airlines took over their routes.