> Then why use a different initial flight path The initial flight path matters least. He mightn't have known which day and route would present the opportunity

> Then why use a different initial flight path The initial flight path matters least. He mightn't have known which day and route would present the opportunity, which would also have to coincide with the right frame of mind for him to execute this operation. His opportunity might have depended upon who was assigned co-pilot on the day. So, whatever initial flight path he took was outside of his control. What was under his control was the part we are trying to understand now - the rest of the voyage, and the destination.