The Great Circle Route

The shortest distance between point A and point B isn't always a straight line...or so says the aviation axiom called "The Great Circle Route". 

Definition: n.

1. A circle described by the intersection of the surface of a sphere with a plane passing through the center of the sphere.
2. A segment of such a circle representing the shortest distance between two terrestrial points.

So...before 1492, we would have plotted the course using a straight line.  Now because of Chris Columbus (THANKS A LOT, CHRIS!!), we have to plot a circle route. Confused? Look at this nice diagram:

But why a circular path? A Great Circle Path is the shortest path on the surface of a sphere between two points on that sphere. Technically, the term geodesic path should be used in this page since Earth is not a true sphere, but the great circle terminology is common usage.

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