Has anyone flown around the world from north to south?
Has anyone flown around the world from north to south? You might think circling the globe by airplane is no big deal anymore. But you'd be wrong. Surprisingly, circumnavigating the world via the North Pole to the South Pole in an airliner is a feat accomplished only three times.
What is the longest direct flight in the world?
Currently, the bragging rights for the longest flight in the world belong to Singapore Airlines' New York City to Singapore route. Its longest flight path, which connects Singapore's Changi Airport with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, 9,585 miles away, takes 18 hours and 40 minutes.
Why do planes not fly directly over the Pacific Ocean?
Most flights are intended to spend as little time as possible over water, since storms are more common over the ocean than on land. An aircraft would not be safe to fly over the Pacific Ocean due to the stormy weather and frequent lightning strikes that occur there.
Is it illegal to fly over Antarctica?
The short answer is, no, it's not illegal to fly over Antarctica. But there are practical considerations that make it challenging for regular airlines to navigate across the land. In many parts of Antarctica, there's limited or no infrastructure, no landing strips, and obviously no refuelling stations for planes.