Since you make a circle. If you move west, you do not move in a straight line. Your distance to the north pole always stays the same, as long as you move in a west ward direction. Are you one meter away from the North pole, and move in a west ward direction, you would move in a 6.25 meter big circle before you got back to the point you started from.
Why would my position move North if my heading is exactly West?
If I go South, I expect to hit Antarctica, I agree with you there
But I don't get why if I'm flying exactly West that for every mile travelled I'm actually 8 inches closer to the North pole?
You can't stay within a circle by moving in a straight line.
Since you make a circle. If you move west, you do not move in a straight line. Your distance to the north pole always stays the same, as long as you move in a west ward direction. Are you one meter away from the North pole, and move in a west ward direction, you would move in a 6.25 meter big circle before you got back to the point you started from.