It's not really a trick question, but I think it's a difficult one.

"M" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" wrote:

What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
wind correction)?

Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.

Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
simulation using the brute force method.