- Joined
- Jul 19, 2004
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- 29,622
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Thanks for the response ...
I didn't suspect the story was a total fabrication. Sorry if I gave that impression ...
That timeframe would coincide with the end of the Vietnam War and the years immediately following. This would suggest Vietnamese, as well as Chinese, airspace boundaries might have constrained their flight path options.
The timeframe also coincides with pre-revolutionary Iran and a period of both close partnerships with Pakistan and active presence at east African sites, so it's conceivable both military and airlift (e.g, resupply) missions out of Diego could have been directed due north or even westward.
This remains relevant owing to your friend's allusion to islands named for Da Gama. The only islands named for Da Gama are to the west of Diego.
This is why I'm interested in determining whether your friend's cited specifics were the result of instrument data (e.g., directly observed as a pilot) or personal estimation / impression (e.g., as a passenger).
The reason I brought up statute versus nautical miles was because 250 nautical miles would be on the order of 288 statute miles - i.e., the stated figure might be closer to the distance (from Diego) at which 'known' islands could be in play as possible candidates.
I didn't suspect the story was a total fabrication. Sorry if I gave that impression ...
That timeframe would coincide with the end of the Vietnam War and the years immediately following. This would suggest Vietnamese, as well as Chinese, airspace boundaries might have constrained their flight path options.
The timeframe also coincides with pre-revolutionary Iran and a period of both close partnerships with Pakistan and active presence at east African sites, so it's conceivable both military and airlift (e.g, resupply) missions out of Diego could have been directed due north or even westward.
This remains relevant owing to your friend's allusion to islands named for Da Gama. The only islands named for Da Gama are to the west of Diego.
This is why I'm interested in determining whether your friend's cited specifics were the result of instrument data (e.g., directly observed as a pilot) or personal estimation / impression (e.g., as a passenger).
The reason I brought up statute versus nautical miles was because 250 nautical miles would be on the order of 288 statute miles - i.e., the stated figure might be closer to the distance (from Diego) at which 'known' islands could be in play as possible candidates.