Is the flight time affected by the earth’s rotation if we go East- vs. Westward?

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Let’s assume we are flying at the same speed of let’s say 600 mp/h eastward and with 600 mp/h back westward: Will there be a difference in flight time?

Please ignore other factors like jetstream/windspeeds etc. for the main part and and only focus on the rotation

Now i don’t know how the speed of an Aircraft is measured/calculated but if the speeds are the same the destination should be coming closer to us and therefore we’d be faster to reach our destination, right?

Or do i have to imagine it in a sense that we are not “detached” from the earth’s movement, even while we are mid-air and are always moving at a constant speed with it and therefore it won’t matter?

Will it be easier to accelerate in one or the other direction? Will going 600 mp/h east take the same power as 600 mp/h going west?

I am so confused and i can’t even pinpoint as to why.

Thanks in advance

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18 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

No, the Earth’s rotation isn’t the reason; it’s the jetstreams. Basically they are strong wind currents that flow from West to East, at certain angles in the Earth. They are pretty strong winds so not only the direction of the flight, the weather will play a role in how fast you go.

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