Newbie, Please explain the horizon view while on a jet liner

Let's say that Earth is flat and you stand in Florida and u look southeast to the ocean. You should easily see Cuba with some binoculars. But nooo you cant because the atmosphere is in the way. Why? because air is not transparent!!

I've been on many aeroplanes specifically looking for curvature and I have never seen it.

Quote from: J. McIntyre on July 20, 2009, 01:24:35 PM

I've been on many aeroplanes specifically looking for curvature and I have never seen it.

Try getting a window seat next time. I see this everytime I fly.

Or am I from NASA???  

Quote from: J. McIntyre on July 20, 2009, 01:24:35 PM

I've been on many aeroplanes specifically looking for curvature and I have never seen it.

Try getting a window seat next time. I see this everytime I fly.

Or am I from NASA??? 

Quote from: jacstar on July 20, 2009, 04:25:17 PM

Quote from: J. McIntyre on July 20, 2009, 01:24:35 PM

I've been on many aeroplanes specifically looking for curvature and I have never seen it.

Try getting a window seat next time. I see this everytime I fly.

Or am I from NASA??? 

No, you're outright lying, because even if the Earth was round, curvature would not be visible from an altitude of just 40,000 feet. Or are you perhaps a "Small Earth" believer? 

"I believe I said that I put myself through college working for an airline, thus having access to free flights around the world.  I also worked for a private FBO, in which the owner owned a Cessna Citation.  I am also a licensed pilot.  Not once, during any of the hundreds if not thousands of flights I've been on, have I ever witnessed the curvature of the Earth."

Here's what a pilot has to say on the matter:

"I believe I said that I put myself through college working for an airline, thus having access to free flights around the world.  I also worked for a private FBO, in which the owner owned a Cessna Citation.  I am also a licensed pilot.  Not once, during any of the hundreds if not thousands of flights I've been on, have I ever witnessed the curvature of the Earth."

What is your basis for the 40,000 foot figure?  At what altitude should curvature become visible?  What field of view would be required to detect curvature at that altitude?

Quote from: markjo on July 21, 2009, 06:27:08 AM

What is your basis for the 40,000 foot figure?  At what altitude should curvature become visible?  What field of view would be required to detect curvature at that altitude?

It's the height of an average commercial airliner (12 km), and it's not a height at which curvature ought to be discernable to the naked eye. The alleged circumference of the Round Earth is 40,000 kilometers. You do the maths.

Quote from: J. McIntyre on July 21, 2009, 07:38:22 AM

Quote from: markjo on July 21, 2009, 06:27:08 AM

What is your basis for the 40,000 foot figure?  At what altitude should curvature become visible?  What field of view would be required to detect curvature at that altitude?

It's the height of an average commercial airliner (12 km), and it's not a height at which curvature ought to be discernable to the naked eye. The alleged circumference of the Round Earth is 40,000 kilometers. You do the maths.

At 18.000 km high you can see the curvature of the earth.

Quote from: J. McIntyre on July 21, 2009, 07:38:22 AM

Quote from: markjo on July 21, 2009, 06:27:08 AM

What is your basis for the 40,000 foot figure?  At what altitude should curvature become visible?  What field of view would be required to detect curvature at that altitude?

It's the height of an average commercial airliner (12 km), and it's not a height at which curvature ought to be discernable to the naked eye. The alleged circumference of the Round Earth is 40,000 kilometers. You do the maths.

At 18.000 km high you can see the curvature of the earth.

Quote from: nocreyente on July 21, 2009, 09:09:16 AM

Quote from: J. McIntyre on July 21, 2009, 07:38:22 AM

Quote from: markjo on July 21, 2009, 06:27:08 AM

What is your basis for the 40,000 foot figure?  At what altitude should curvature become visible?  What field of view would be required to detect curvature at that altitude?

It's the height of an average commercial airliner (12 km), and it's not a height at which curvature ought to be discernable to the naked eye. The alleged circumference of the Round Earth is 40,000 kilometers. You do the maths.

At 18.000 km high you can see the curvature of the earth.

You can't, but even if you could (i.e., if the Earth were round), a commercial airliner generally does not fly that high.

Quote from: J. McIntyre on July 21, 2009, 10:03:58 AM

Quote from: nocreyente on July 21, 2009, 09:09:16 AM

Quote from: J. McIntyre on July 21, 2009, 07:38:22 AM

Quote from: markjo on July 21, 2009, 06:27:08 AM

What is your basis for the 40,000 foot figure?  At what altitude should curvature become visible?  What field of view would be required to detect curvature at that altitude?

It's the height of an average commercial airliner (12 km), and it's not a height at which curvature ought to be discernable to the naked eye. The alleged circumference of the Round Earth is 40,000 kilometers. You do the maths.

At 18.000 km high you can see the curvature of the earth.

You can't, but even if you could (i.e., if the Earth were round), a commercial airliner generally does not fly that high.

Who said a comercial airliner??? I was a jet fighter pilot in the Air Force of Chile (FACh) Southamerica... I flew over 19.000 km (something like 62.500 fts). and I saw the curvature of the earth, really...

Sorry, I didn't see that you were talking about km, and not feet (we normally discuss altitude in terms of feet her, so forgive me). In any case, these are just more unsubstantiated claims.

Sorry, I didn't see that you were talking about km, and not feet (we normally discuss altitude in terms of feet her, so forgive me). In any case, these are just more unsubstantiated claims.

Northamerica use your own system.

I only use my empiric knowledge to talk about things, nothing by books.

Are you sure you weren't mistaken (I am sure you were)? There are a number of things which could have caused this mistake. All or any of the following might be true.

1) You confused the boundary of your own line of vision with the vertical aspect of the horizon. Since you can see a certain distance, if you look around from a single point, a circular locus of vision is formed. Normally it's easy to see the difference, but I'm sure you had a lot more on your mind as the pilot of a fighter jet.

2) Your window was curved and distorted the horizon

3) You expected curvature, and since you were focussed on flying the plane, your mind is just filling in the blanks since you had more important things to worry about.

4) The effects of high-velocity flying impaired your visual reasoning somewhat

5) You might just be lying, but I will assume you aren't (unless you adamantly deny the above four possibilities)

Quote from: nocreyente on July 21, 2009, 10:20:17 AM

Northamerica use your own system.

Wrong; Canada doesn't.

Quote from: nocreyente on July 21, 2009, 10:20:17 AM

I only use my empiric knowledge to talk about things, nothing by books.

Really, so is the Earth round?

My experience tell me, without any doubt, that the earth is ROUND!....

But in regards to empirical evidence, the only way to provide an immensely high probability for the Earth being round would require first-hand observation from space, and even then, probability isn't 100%. So I'd like to know through what experiences you've come to assume the Earth being round.

Quote from: nocreyente on July 21, 2009, 10:33:54 AM

My experience tell me, without any doubt, that the earth is ROUND!....

But in regards to empirical evidence, the only way to provide an immensely high probability for the Earth being round would require first-hand observation from space, and even then, probability isn't 100%. So I'd like to know through what experiences you've come to assume the Earth being round.

Through what experiences have you come to assume that the world is flat?

I don't want to change your mindo, or try to convince you about anything, if you believe the earth is flat, fine...

But my experience tell me that the earth is round.