Can we hover and wait for the destination to arrive?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the misconception that a hovering aircraft can wait for its destination to arrive due to the Earth's rotation at 1670 km/h. Participants clarify that the Earth and its atmosphere rotate as a single unit, negating the idea of a constant westward wind. When an aircraft hovers, it remains stationary relative to the air, but from the ground perspective, it is subject to the same atmospheric conditions, which would result in movement towards its destination. This understanding is crucial for grasping the dynamics of flight in relation to Earth's rotation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Earth's rotation and its effects on atmospheric dynamics
  • Basic principles of aerodynamics and flight mechanics
  • Knowledge of relative motion in physics
  • Familiarity with the concept of inertial frames of reference
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  • Research the principles of aerodynamics and how they apply to hovering aircraft
  • Study the effects of Earth's rotation on weather patterns and wind dynamics
  • Explore the concept of inertial frames of reference in physics
  • Learn about the mechanics of flight and how aircraft navigate relative to the Earth's surface
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Aerospace engineers, physics students, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the principles of flight and atmospheric science.

helmi
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If the Earth rotates 1670km/hr why can't I just hover high enough (assuming there's enough fuel) and wait for my destination to arrive? Haha
 

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The whole planet rotates, including the atmosphere, as one unit. Not just the solid part.

If this were not the case, then we'd have a constant 1670 km/h westward wind blowing all the time as the whole atmosphere slid past us, which would be pretty ridiculous. From the perspective of people on the plane it sounds reasonable at first. You hover stationary relative to the air while the ground rotates underneath you. But consider the same situation from the perspective of people on the ground. As soon as the plane launches, it gets blown away towards its destination by this tremendous and ever-present wind.
 
cepheid said:
The whole planet rotates, including the atmosphere, as one unit. Not just the solid part.

If this were not the case, then we'd have a constant 1670 km/h westward wind blowing all the time as the whole atmosphere slid past us, which would be pretty ridiculous. From the perspective of people on the plane it sounds reasonable at first. You hover stationary relative to the air while the ground rotates underneath you. But consider the same situation from the perspective of people on the ground. As soon as the plane launches, it gets blown away towards its destination by this tremendous and ever-present wind.

that makes perfect sense, thanks cepheid :smile:
 

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