This is a chance you might not want to pass up if you’re keeping an eye out for Saturday’s annular eclipse. A opportunity to view the entire solar eclipse from the air is being offered by Southwest Airlines for the 2019 eclipse.
Four of the indicated planes, which either depart from or land at Love Field, are most likely to be in direct or indirect trajectories of the significant celestial event on April 8, 2024. Flight trajectories may change depending on the weather that day of the event.
The finest views of the eclipse are most likely to come on these flights:
- Southwest Flight #1252: departs Dallas (Love Field) at 12:45 p.m. CDT for Pittsburgh
- Southwest Flight #1721: departs Austin at 12:50 p.m. CDT for Indianapolis
- Southwest Flight #1910: departs St. Louis at 1:20 p.m. CDT for Houston (Hobby)
These flights may cross the path of totality:
- Southwest Flight #955 departs Dallas (Love Field) at 12:50 p.m. CDT for Chicago (Midway)
- Southwest Flight #506: departs Milwaukee at 1:05 p.m. CDT for Dallas (Love Field)
- Southwest Flight #1734: departs Houston (Hobby) at 1:35 p.m. CDT for Indianapolis
- Southwest Flight #1682: departs Chicago (Midway) at 1:30 p.m. CDT for Austin
- Southwest flight #3108: departs Nashville at 1:40 p.m. CDT for Dallas (Love Field)
You can book a seat on one of these flights at southwest.com.
According to astronomers, the eclipse on April 8 will be the final opportunity to view a total solar eclipse in the United States until 2045.
According to Southwest Airlines chief meteorologist David Dillahunt, “today’s annular solar eclipse was an exciting sneak preview of the total solar eclipse occurring next year, and our Meteorology and Network Planning Teams identified the best opportunities for a potential view of this breathtaking sight.” We can provide hundreds of seats in the skies to witness the eclipse thanks to our flight schedule, and we’re excited to show off our hospitality on this day while celebrating with our clients.
In 2017, the United States saw its most recent complete solar eclipse.
Since he was a little boy, astronomer Jon Carmichael has been keeping track of the date of August 21, 2017, in hopes of witnessing a complete solar eclipse.
Carmichael was able to realize his ambition while flying with Southwest Airlines.
“I found a flight on Southwest Airlines that was leaving from Portland, Oregon, to St. Louis, Missouri, and if you look at the eclipse maps from 2017, the flight path itself matched the moon’s shadow path almost perfectly,” said Carmichael.
Three Southwest representatives from the corporate office in Dallas were waiting for Carmichael at the gate with eclipse glasses for everyone on board and free beverages.
Carmichael introduced himself and landed a perfect seat on the plane. But the windows weren’t clean enough to get the perfect shot.
The pilot overheard him and made sure it was taken care of and that he’d have a clear view.
Carmichael, however, had a request to flip the plane throughout the journey to acquire a 180-degree view of the eclipse in order to grab the perfect photo. To his astonishment, the pilot was allowed to do the maneuver with FAA permission.
Carmichael was able to take hundreds of photos at a height of 39,000 feet in only three minutes while making five different maneuvers to create the ideal composite picture.
“I spent a whole year putting this image together,” Carmichael claimed. “I worked on it for 100 hours. It was created using 1,200 pictures. Southwest owes me money since the whole flight crew went above and above to assist me.
Carmichael urged others to take advantage of the flights on the route of completeness since he said that the experience had transformed his career. He advises putting the camera down and simply enjoying the moment, even if you’re on the ground.
Carmichael observed, “It’s 10,000 brighter at 90% than 100%.” When the eclipse is 100% complete, you may really remove your eclipse glasses and look directly at the moon and the sun. I promise you that it is the most gorgeous thing you will ever see.
