ATL to ATL with no stopovers?
Jul 20, 2004, 5:54 am
#1
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ATL to ATL with no stopovers?
Watching the live air traffic map for ATL this morning, I noticed Delta flight 9976 with ATL as both the departure and arrival.
I know we had covered flights earlier that had a shared flight number both outbound and inbound (like the JFK-SEA-JFK flight). But this one doesn't seem to have an intermediate destination...as if it takes off from ATL, circles a few times, and lands again.
Plugging in the flight number into Delta's flight status site shows exactly that, too. Anybody know what this mystery flight is?
I know we had covered flights earlier that had a shared flight number both outbound and inbound (like the JFK-SEA-JFK flight). But this one doesn't seem to have an intermediate destination...as if it takes off from ATL, circles a few times, and lands again.
Plugging in the flight number into Delta's flight status site shows exactly that, too. Anybody know what this mystery flight is?
Jul 20, 2004, 6:13 am
#2
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Just guessing
Maybe the easiest way to change gates?
Jul 20, 2004, 8:22 am
#3
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Flights starting with 99** are often maintenance or ferry flights.
They were probably taking the aircraft for a test spin.
They were probably taking the aircraft for a test spin.
Jul 20, 2004, 8:25 am
#4
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Maybe repair work has been completed and they are making a practice run before the actual flight.
Jul 20, 2004, 11:23 am
#5
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Wonder how many miles you get? 
Jul 20, 2004, 4:26 pm
#6
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No movie, no food, and it's a 737... I'll pass 
Jul 20, 2004, 5:25 pm
#7
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Originally Posted by platbrownguy
No movie, no food, and it's a 737... I'll pass
Jul 20, 2004, 5:29 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by JS
Just think, though, it would be your record shortest flight (defined as distance between origin and destination), and is a record that cannot ever be broken.
Jul 20, 2004, 5:48 pm
#9
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Correct, but what I meant was your personal record for shortest flight. My record shortest flight is EFD-IAH, and there aren't too many flights out there that are shorter. ATL-ATL would smash all of them, easily.
Jul 20, 2004, 6:07 pm
#10
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Originally Posted by JS
Correct, but what I meant was your personal record for shortest flight. My record shortest flight is EFD-IAH, and there aren't too many flights out there that are shorter. ATL-ATL would smash all of them, easily.
I don't know why they even bothered retracting the lnading gear....
Last edited by hnechets; Jul 20, 2004 at 6:09 pm
Jul 20, 2004, 7:45 pm
#11
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i've done a zero mile flight -- SJU to SJU in 32 minutes on american eagle.
i'm sure i'm not alone -- anyone who's ever been on a plane where a mechanical problem was discovered after takeoff has been there....
i'm sure i'm not alone -- anyone who's ever been on a plane where a mechanical problem was discovered after takeoff has been there....
Jul 20, 2004, 7:52 pm
#12
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Originally Posted by JS
Correct, but what I meant was your personal record for shortest flight.
Jul 20, 2004, 8:00 pm
#13
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Originally Posted by indufan
My personal record is GRB-ATW. Expedia show it at 25 miles, I didn't bother to use great circle on it.
I think we should exclude mechanical problems. That's just blind luck.
Trying to schedule a zero mile flight as a passenger -- now that's tough. To make it possible at all, let's include non-revenue passengers (not crew members). Anyone?
Jul 20, 2004, 8:08 pm
#14
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The shortest trip I have ever flown was MIA-FLL, which was an actual DL flight in the 80's. It was actually a circular route from ATL (ATL-MIA-FLL-ATL) so that it could service both Florida airports.
According to the Great Circle Mapper this is 21 miles. Do I get the prize?
According to the Great Circle Mapper this is 21 miles. Do I get the prize?
Jul 20, 2004, 8:20 pm
#15
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How far is it from Moscow, Idaho to Lewiston-Clarkston, Idaho. I flew that route once.
I had a 15 minute layover in Lewiston once and had enough time to get off the plane, go outside the terminal for a smoke, clear security and get back on before the flight left.
I had a 15 minute layover in Lewiston once and had enough time to get off the plane, go outside the terminal for a smoke, clear security and get back on before the flight left.