Original – Pilots would have to constantly descend on a spherical Earth to avoid flying into space.
If the Earth were truly a globe with a circumference of 25,000 miles, airplane pilots would need to continually adjust their altitudes downward to avoid flying off into “outer space.” A pilot aiming to maintain a constant altitude at a standard cruising speed of 500 mph would need to perpetually lower the plane’s nose and descend 2,777 feet (more than half a mile) every minute! Without making these adjustments, the pilot would be 31.5 miles higher than anticipated after just one hour.
Versus – Gravity keeps planes at stable altitude.
Pilots don’t need to manually descend to stay at a certain altitude. This is because gravity constantly pulls the plane towards the Earth, keeping it at the right height in the atmosphere. Planes are also equipped with autopilots, which help maintain a stable altitude and course.