1

Flat Earth Investigations / Re: Airplane proves flat earth ✈️

« on: August 22, 2025, 10:28:20 AM »

No; but that is what I would expect.  It's curved, but the sheer enormity of it makes the curvature imperceptible. 

2

Flat Earth Investigations / Re: Airplane proves flat earth ✈️

« on: August 21, 2025, 09:03:01 AM »

1. I don't think anyone would notice your point
2. You say yes. Does that mean that pilots and passengers can indeed see slight changes in the horizon at different altitudes?
3. You mention that the curvature is less noticeable under a magnifying glass, which is interesting. But if you use a telephoto lens to photograph the distant horizon from a high altitude, is there any scientifically recognized experimental data that can quantify this curvature?
4. I understand your case of transoceanic flights in the Southern Hemisphere, which can only be explained by spherical routes. But are there any actual flight routes that appear to violate the shortest spherical route? If so, how can you explain it?

Thanks for coming back, Diana.  Welcome to the forumm btw. 

1.  OK.
2.  No, at atmospheric altitudes (ie, not in space) the horizon appears flat.  Imagine you're in a balloon at 50,000 feet. Look North, and let's say the horizon appears curved, that is, it's lower at the edges.  Now turn to your right and look East.  With a curved horizon, logic says tha the horizon will continue to curve down at the edges.  Keep turning right until you're bac looking North.  See my point?  It can't continue to curve downwards. 
3.  Don't know; not my speciallist subject.
4.  Kind of, but entirely logical.  The shortest distance between 2 point on a sphere is a Great Circle, but that is not necessarily the fastest, cheapest, safest route.  Amongst the considerations that disrupt a Great Circle are weather, wind velocity, diplomatic and political neccessity, cost of fuel etc.  For instance, commercial routes from Europe to the far east often route via the Gulf States; the fuel's cheaper.  And, of course, the need to remain within range of diversion airfields in case of emergency. 

And your question to Gonzo; aircraft maintain height primarily by reference to atmospheric pressure acting on the altimeter.  Pressure reduces with altitude above sea-level and it doesn't matter whether the Earth is flat, round or shaped like a Toblerone; autopilot monitors the altimeter and acts to keep the aircraft at a constant atmospheric pressure, ascending or descending as necessary.  Look at the isobars on a map, weather has a far greater effect on heightkeeping than earth-curvature. 

(edit, Gonzo answered this in greater detail whilst i was writing).

3

Flat Earth Investigations / Re: Airplane proves flat earth ✈️

« on: August 20, 2025, 05:10:27 PM »

Hi everyone, I recently saw some videos about whether the earth is round or flat, so I was thinking about the question of airplane flight and the shape of the earth and wanted to share some observations with you.

1.Have any pilots or passengers ever personally observed the nose of an airplane adjust during flight?

2.Does the horizon appear consistently flat at different flight levels and altitudes?

3Has anyone tried photographing the horizon with a telescope or a high-powered camera to verify its curvature?

4Is route planning based on a spherical Earth or a flat map more effective?

5If the Earth is truly spherical, why don't instruments and navigation systems correct for curvature in real time?

I am a retired aircraft engineer.  These are questions, not observations, but here goes;

1. As Gonzo said, an aircraft's attitude in flight is in a state of constant adjustment due to changes in course, altitude and the effects of the aircraft's inherent stability, auto-flight system (or pilot) reacting to turbulence.  On a round earth of the conventionally accepted form, circumference around 24,000 miles, an aircraft will theoretically have to pitch it's nose down by 1 degree in the course of 67 miles.  Do you think that the passengers and crew would notice this against the background of other movement? 

2. Yes.

3. What is the point?  by using magnification, the observer is focussing on a smaller arc of curvature than with the naked eye, so curvature would be less pronounced. 

4. Spherical.  Just look at a flight tracking site like FR24, and observe the south atlantic and south pacific.  There are now daily flights between Australia-South America, and Australasia-Chile.  These take place entirely in oceanic airspace; does this routing correspond with any of the various flat-earth maps you've seen?  Would the distance even be within the flyable range of any airliner on any flat earth map?  (At this point, I will point out that a flat-earth lurker will likely be on shortly, with his theory about "anomalous" winds and jetstreams boosting the groundspeed of long haul aircraft.  When he does, ask yourself how airline operations departments can plan to use winds of unknown direction and velocity?  How much fuel should the aircraft carry?  Jetstreams are an almost completely west-to-east phenomenon; how can they consistently give advantage to outward and return trips?).

5.  They do. 

4

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: August 16, 2025, 08:41:27 AM »

The pre-planned display of F-22s, the random B-2/F-35 flypast, were nice reminders of US military dominance, but as soon as Putin arrives on the carpet it all starts to fall apart.  He's like the ubiquitous, inadequate, school bully.  He bullies his global peers, he bullies his opponents, he bullies the other branches of government, he bullies his cabinet.  Suddenly, with Putin, it's like his Mom's in the room; "Now Donald, play nicely with Vladimir".  What's Putin got on him? 

At the "press conference" he surrenders the lead to Putin, then the normally loquacious Trump rambles on for 2 or 3 minutes about how well it all went, having achieved diddly.  (Remember the Kim Jon Un 1-on-1 btw?  The secret agreement which is still so secret you might think it doesn't exist?).

On a cognitive note, did you notice how he praised Putin's entourage, but couldn't remember Sergei Lavrov's name?  "That guy there, see his face ....".

5

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: July 29, 2025, 04:44:04 PM »

I consider myself privileged to be numbered amongst Tom's "you Guys", but I've seen little in the way of context for the ball-drop, or whether it constitutes a rule break.  Surely there's more relevant critiques of the big inept, arrogant, orange man-baby clown. 

6

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: June 27, 2025, 09:58:35 PM »

If we accept that the Fordo site was a weapon production facility, which seems to be the position of both Israel and USA, then it is was a legitimate military target. 

"Obliterated" or not, unless the enriched uranium has been vapourised, it may still exist in some form.  Any attempt at rebuilding, recovery or salvaging of either the product, or its means of production, is also a legitimate military target. 

7

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: June 25, 2025, 08:25:08 AM »

https://thehill.com/homenews/5365719-trump-israel-iran-ceasefire/

What a surprise! Trump was full of shit, and the war continues.

No.  He is full of shit but, on this one, he seems to have pulled some strings and, 24 hours later, cease-fire is holding. 

Regarding his full-of-shitness, he's still claiming that Iraq's nuclear programme has been completely obliterated, despite his own intelligence organisations stating otherwise.  As usual, anyone who can't see the Emperor's new clothes is an unpatriotic "low level loser".  From a military aviation perspective, the planning and exection of the B-2 strike was outstanding and no other military on earth could have done it.  That is down to the equipment, training and courage of the Air Force, but Trump undoubtedly needed balls to authorise it. 

As usual, of course, his narrative of the outcome is entirely driven by his big orange ego.  He can't bring himself to publicly concede that any of his projects is less than a 100% success. 

8

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: June 20, 2025, 08:12:18 AM »

It's a natural progression. 

1st Term; Trump.
2nd Term; Trumper.
Constitutional Amendment; Trumpest.

9

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: June 07, 2025, 12:56:48 PM »

No fan of Mr Tangerine Man, but I think someone needs to play Devil's advocate here.  Without context, an (unsubstantiated) "Trump appears in Epstein files" is meaningless. 

"Jesus appears in the Holy Bible". 
"Satan appears in the Holy Bible. 

So.  "DuncanDoenitz appears in the Holy Bible"; should I be pleased or pissed off?     

10

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 27, 2025, 08:05:27 PM »

If Russia wanted Ukraine it would have had it in the early stages of the war. Russia wants to be ethical about it and so it is only taking the breakaway regions. It's not a coincidence that it's current territories are the areas which wanted to break away.

The disputed territories are in the southeast, which explains why Russia attacked from the southeast, but they simultaneously also invaded from northeast and from the northwest.  Launching from Belarus, russian forces advanced directly south; west of the Dniepro and hundreds of kilometers from their ethical objective.  Russian paratroops took the Antonov airport at Hostomel, roughly 30 km northwest of Kyiv. 

The only reason they are not there now is entirely down to military and logistical incompetence.  Within days, the Ukrainians handed their asses to them in a doggie-bag. 

11

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 07, 2025, 09:18:34 PM »

His seemingly immunity to career ending actions is simply because he is, as you said, a star.  He's popular.  He says the right things to make his base love him with a passion.  He's the kind of person who oversimplifies a situation, promises big, and forces himself upon everything.  He's the authoritarian dictator a good portion of America wants.  He's ruthless.  He's relentless.  He blames everyone else.  And he acts tough.

And there, Ladies and Gentlemen, you have the quandry. 

Anyone on this thread; LD, Markjo, AATW, me, Tom or A80 could have written that quote and believed it.  The only differance is that Tom and A80 think that these are good attributes. 

12

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: April 24, 2025, 10:58:39 AM »

Different beliefs on the issues of trans, abortion and migration are not the actions of a cult member.
My beliefs on all those things are different to yours, they're just not as simplistic and reductive as you have claimed above.

^Trying to find sophistication within patently absurd leftist positions, while at the same time claiming to be a Christian, explains so much.

So this Guy is born in the Palestine around 1st Century CE; He throws businessmen and financiers out of holy buildings, and tells stories about immigrants coming to the assistance of local people in need.   

Sound a bit lefty-cultist to me. 

13

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: April 21, 2025, 09:48:09 PM »

Here's a few random out-of-context quotes from someone over just the last 2 days of posts; 

"Liberal media ..."
"Liberal trash article ...."
"Leftist comedy websites ..."
"the Leftist 'they lie about everything' argument"
"the Leftists .... saying the most retartet (sic) things"
"Leftist worldview .....".

If I'm reading this right, then Trump, the Cabinet, Fox and Tom are Mainstream.  Everything else is extremism. 

14

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Blue Ghost

« on: April 14, 2025, 08:02:57 PM »

And now Katy Perry is "in on it"

Along with those folks from FRAM2.  But then Elon is obviously in on the grift.

Oh no; in an embarrassing faux pas, WTF has now mentioned the unmentionable Elon-phant in the room. 

Yes, whilst Musk, Donald's DOGE poster-boy, spends half of his time sacking civil servants for taking money in return for precious-little National-benefit, he spends the rest of his waking hours accepting government cash to spend on ficticious ISS-commuting, launching supersonic helium-filled Starlink blimps and pretending to develop Mars-shots. 

15

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: April 10, 2025, 11:03:48 PM »

"Make the Shower Great Again". 

Like many concepts, the French already have it nailed; "Encore le Grande Douche". 

Works on so many levels. 

16

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: April 10, 2025, 03:58:34 PM »

That's 37.5 gallons.  Mar-a-Largo must get shampoo delivered by tanker truck.   

17

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: April 10, 2025, 08:49:06 AM »

Laughably, leftists were predicting a US Recession, and have now rescinded their predictions.

Let's see. 

Trump announces a policy.  US and global markets plunge.  Recession predicted. 

Three days later; Trump changes his mind and announces a different policy.  US and global markets recover.  Prediction rescinded. 

Yup; laughable kind of sums that up.  (Damned Leftists). 

18

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: April 09, 2025, 02:19:35 PM »

Don't know what formula China is using; they've just come back with an increase of 50%, to 84% on American imports.  Effective tomorrow. 

Well that was totally unexpected.  (Not). 

19

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: April 08, 2025, 04:39:18 PM »

Probably doesn't as he couldn't tell a nickle from a manhole cover anyway.

That's "nickel".  Unless you can't tell a nickle from an asshole cover.   

20

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: April 01, 2025, 09:07:24 AM »

No, they don't.  The houthies know that they are targets.  If they get 2 hours notice that jets are coming their way, they they have time to prepare a welcome.

They've already tried. They don't have the technology.

This is part of your problem Tom, you just can't help thinking like an American.  They have technology, but they don't need technology. 

Try and put yourself in the Terrorist's sandals.  You visit your girlfriend "at the usual time" of 15.00.  Iranian Republican Guards email/phone/send-a messenger on a scooter to you.  They have intercepted a message: "Planes are airborne, he's at his girlfriend's house". 

What do you do?  Launch some SAMs? 

Or maybe just put on her burkha, get in your Mercedes and drive like Bin Laden.