Alaska Airlines Hosting an Eclipse-Viewing Party in the Air
PORTLAND, Ore. -- While millions of people get ready to watch today’s total solar eclipse from the ground, Alaska Airlines will be hosting an eclipse-viewing party in the air.
Alaska’s charter Flight #9671 will leave Oregon’s Portland International Airport at 7:15 a.m. PT. It will head west for two hours out over the Pacific Ocean to give astronomy enthusiasts, eclipse-chasers, a NASA astronaut, social media contest winners and other guests flying in a freshly-washed Boeing 737-900 a unique and early view of the total eclipse. The plane is expected to fly at 38,000, possibly climbing to 40,000 during the viewing flight.
Over the past few months, astronomers have been working closely with Alaska Airlines pilots to chart the best flight path to catch the eclipse and found that, for a variety of reason, heading out over the ocean would provide the ideal views.