About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW), Beckley, West Virginia, United States and Thule Air Base (THU), Pituffik, Greenland would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,704 miles (or 4,352 kilometers).

A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Raleigh County Memorial Airport and Thule Air Base, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.

Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Raleigh County Memorial Airport and Thule Air Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

IATA / ICAO Codes: BKW / KBKW
Airport Name: Raleigh County Memorial Airport
Location: Beckley, West Virginia, United States
GPS Coordinates: 37°47'13"N by 81°7'27"W
Area Served: Beckley, West Virginia
Operator/Owner: Raleigh County Airport Authority
Airport Type: Public
Elevation: 2504 feet (763 meters)
# of Runways: 2
View all routes: Routes from BKW
More Information: BKW Maps & Info

Arrival Airport Information:

IATA / ICAO Codes: THU / BGTL
Airport Names:
  1. Thule Air Base
  2. Thule AB
Location: Pituffik, Greenland
GPS Coordinates: 76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W
View all routes: Routes from THU
More Information: THU Maps & Info

Facts about Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW):

  • As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 3,630 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 2,626 enplanements in 2009, and 2,429 in 2010.
  • The furthest airport from Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,491 miles (18,494 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
  • The closest airport to Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) is Mercer County Airport (BLF), which is located 34 miles (55 kilometers) S of BKW.
  • Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) has 2 runways.

Facts about Thule Air Base (THU):

  • In addition to being known as "Thule Air Base", another name for THU is "Thule AB".
  • In the winter of 1956/57 three KC-97 tankers and alternately one of two RB-47H aircraft made polar flights to inspect Soviet defenses.
  • The closest airport to Thule Air Base (THU) is Savissivik Heliport (SVR), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) ESE of THU.
  • Thule Air Base is also home to the 821st Air Base Group and is responsible for air base support within the Thule Defense Area for the multinational population of "Team Thule." The base hosts the 12th Space Warning Squadron which operates a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System designed to detect and track ICBMs launched against North America.
  • The furthest airport from Thule Air Base (THU) is Hobart International Airport (HBA), which is located 9,883 miles (15,905 kilometers) away in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
  • A cluster of huts known as Pituffik stood on the wide plain where the base was built in 1951.
  • In 1957 construction began on 4 Nike Missile sites around the base, and they and their radar systems were operational by the end of 1958.
  • Thule AB was constructed in secret under the code name Operation Blue Jay, but the project was made public in September 1952.

Map of Nearest Airports to Raleigh County Memorial Airport:

List of Nearest Airports to Raleigh County Memorial Airport:

RankDistance & DirectionAirport Name & IATA CodeAirport LocationFurther Actions
134.26 miles (55.13 km) SMercer County Airport (BLF)Bluefield, West Virginia, United StatesView Mercer County Airport on a map Set BLF as origin Airport Set BLF as destination Airport Get more information about Mercer County Airport
239.86 miles (64.14 km) EGreenbrier Valley Airport (LWB)Lewisburg, West Virginia, United StatesView Greenbrier Valley Airport on a map Set LWB as origin Airport Set LWB as destination Airport Get more information about Greenbrier Valley Airport
348.00 miles (77.25 km) NNWYeager Airport (CRW)Charleston, West Virginia, United StatesView Yeager Airport on a map Set CRW as origin Airport Set CRW as destination Airport Get more information about Yeager Airport
451.13 miles (82.28 km) SSENew River Valley Airport (PSK)Dublin, Virginia, United StatesView New River Valley Airport on a map Set PSK as origin Airport Set PSK as destination Airport Get more information about New River Valley Airport
556.08 miles (90.25 km) SEVirginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport (BCB)Blacksburg, Virginia, United StatesView Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport on a map Set BCB as origin Airport Set BCB as destination Airport Get more information about Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport
670.54 miles (113.52 km) ESERoanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)Roanoke, Virginia, United StatesView Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport on a map Set ROA as origin Airport Set ROA as destination Airport Get more information about Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport
786.35 miles (138.97 km) WNWLawrence County Airpark (HTW)Chesapeake, Ohio / Huntington, West Virginia, United StatesView Lawrence County Airpark on a map Set HTW as origin Airport Set HTW as destination Airport Get more information about Lawrence County Airpark
887.70 miles (141.14 km) WNWTri-State Airport (HTS)Huntington, West Virginia, United StatesView Tri-State Airport on a map Set HTS as origin Airport Set HTS as destination Airport Get more information about Tri-State Airport
990.97 miles (146.40 km) SSWVirginia Highlands Airport (VJI)Abingdon, Virginia, United StatesView Virginia Highlands Airport on a map Set VJI as origin Airport Set VJI as destination Airport Get more information about Virginia Highlands Airport
1094.92 miles (152.75 km) SWLonesome Pine Airport (LNP)Wise, Virginia, United StatesView Lonesome Pine Airport on a map Set LNP as origin Airport Set LNP as destination Airport Get more information about Lonesome Pine Airport
11108.10 miles (173.97 km) SWilkes County Airport (IKB)North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United StatesView Wilkes County Airport on a map Set IKB as origin Airport Set IKB as destination Airport Get more information about Wilkes County Airport
12108.97 miles (175.37 km) NMid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport (PKB)Parkersburg, West Virginia, United StatesView Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport on a map Set PKB as origin Airport Set PKB as destination Airport Get more information about Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport
13110.06 miles (177.13 km) ESELynchburg Regional Airport (LYH)Lynchburg, Virginia, United StatesView Lynchburg Regional Airport on a map Set LYH as origin Airport Set LYH as destination Airport Get more information about Lynchburg Regional Airport
14114.95 miles (184.99 km) SWTri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI)Blountville, Tennessee (Tri-Cities area), United StatesView Tri-Cities Regional Airport on a map Set TRI as origin Airport Set TRI as destination Airport Get more information about Tri-Cities Regional Airport
15114.99 miles (185.05 km) NNENorth Central West Virginia Airport (CKB)Clarksburg, West Virginia, United StatesView North Central West Virginia Airport on a map Set CKB as origin Airport Set CKB as destination Airport Get more information about North Central West Virginia Airport

Map of Furthest Airports from Raleigh County Memorial Airport:

List of Furthest Airports from Raleigh County Memorial Airport:

RankDistance & DirectionAirport Name & IATA CodeAirport LocationFurther Actions
111,491.43 miles (18,493.61 km) WSWMargaret River Airport (MGV)Margaret River, Western Australia, AustraliaView Margaret River Airport on a map Set MGV as origin Airport Set MGV as destination Airport Get more information about Margaret River Airport
211,469.26 miles (18,457.94 km) WSWBusselton Regional Airport (BQB)Busselton, Western Australia, AustraliaView Busselton Regional Airport on a map Set BQB as origin Airport Set BQB as destination Airport Get more information about Busselton Regional Airport
311,446.43 miles (18,421.20 km) WSWBunbury Airport (BUY)Bunbury, Western Australia, AustraliaView Bunbury Airport on a map Set BUY as origin Airport Set BUY as destination Airport Get more information about Bunbury Airport
411,443.47 miles (18,416.44 km) WManjimup Airport (MJP)Manjimup, Western Australia, AustraliaView Manjimup Airport on a map Set MJP as origin Airport Set MJP as destination Airport Get more information about Manjimup Airport
511,413.40 miles (18,368.04 km) WSWRottnest Airport (RTS)Rottnest Island, Western Australia, AustraliaView Rottnest Airport on a map Set RTS as origin Airport Set RTS as destination Airport Get more information about Rottnest Airport
611,398.50 miles (18,344.07 km) WSWJandakot Airport (JAD)Jandakot, Western Australia, AustraliaView Jandakot Airport on a map Set JAD as origin Airport Set JAD as destination Airport Get more information about Jandakot Airport
711,389.07 miles (18,328.88 km) WSWPerth Airport (PER)Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaView Perth Airport on a map Set PER as origin Airport Set PER as destination Airport Get more information about Perth Airport
811,378.19 miles (18,311.38 km) WSWJurien Bay Airport (JUR)Jurien Bay, Western Australia, AustraliaView Jurien Bay Airport on a map Set JUR as origin Airport Set JUR as destination Airport Get more information about Jurien Bay Airport
911,367.19 miles (18,293.67 km) WAlbany Airport (ALH)Albany, Western Australia, AustraliaView Albany Airport on a map Set ALH as origin Airport Set ALH as destination Airport Get more information about Albany Airport
1011,348.58 miles (18,263.72 km) WKatanning Airport (KNI)Katanning, Western Australia, AustraliaView Katanning Airport on a map Set KNI as origin Airport Set KNI as destination Airport Get more information about Katanning Airport
1111,333.90 miles (18,240.09 km) WSWGeraldton Airport (GET)Geraldton, Western Australia, AustraliaView Geraldton Airport on a map Set GET as origin Airport Set GET as destination Airport Get more information about Geraldton Airport
1211,305.48 miles (18,194.36 km) WSWKalbarri Airport (KAX)Kalbarri, Western Australia, AustraliaView Kalbarri Airport on a map Set KAX as origin Airport Set KAX as destination Airport Get more information about Kalbarri Airport
1311,287.23 miles (18,164.99 km) WSWMorawa Airport (MWB)Morawa, Western Australia, AustraliaView Morawa Airport on a map Set MWB as origin Airport Set MWB as destination Airport Get more information about Morawa Airport
1411,281.52 miles (18,155.81 km) WSWMullewa Airport (MXU)Mullewa, Western Australia, AustraliaView Mullewa Airport on a map Set MXU as origin Airport Set MXU as destination Airport Get more information about Mullewa Airport
1511,248.11 miles (18,102.03 km) SWShark Bay Airport (MJK)Monkey Mia, Western Australia, AustraliaView Shark Bay Airport on a map Set MJK as origin Airport Set MJK as destination Airport Get more information about Shark Bay Airport

Map of Nearest Airports to Thule Air Base:

List of Nearest Airports to Thule Air Base:

RankDistance & DirectionAirport Name & IATA CodeAirport LocationFurther Actions
169.00 miles (111.05 km) ESESavissivik Heliport (SVR)Savissivik, GreenlandView Savissivik Heliport on a map Set SVR as destination Airport Set SVR as destination Airport Get more information about Savissivik Heliport
292.13 miles (148.27 km) NNWSiorapaluk Heliport (SRK)Siorapaluk, GreenlandView Siorapaluk Heliport on a map Set SRK as destination Airport Set SRK as destination Airport Get more information about Siorapaluk Heliport
3229.06 miles (368.63 km) WGrise Fiord Airport (YGZ)Grise Fiord, Nunavut, CanadaView Grise Fiord Airport on a map Set YGZ as destination Airport Set YGZ as destination Airport Get more information about Grise Fiord Airport
4238.65 miles (384.06 km) ESEKullorsuaq Heliport (KHQ)Kullorsuaq, GreenlandView Kullorsuaq Heliport on a map Set KHQ as destination Airport Set KHQ as destination Airport Get more information about Kullorsuaq Heliport
5262.86 miles (423.04 km) ESENuussuaq Heliport (NSQ)Nuussuaq, GreenlandView Nuussuaq Heliport on a map Set NSQ as destination Airport Set NSQ as destination Airport Get more information about Nuussuaq Heliport
6313.53 miles (504.57 km) SETasiusaq Heliport (TQA)Tasiusaq, Qaasuitsup, GreenlandView Tasiusaq Heliport on a map Set TQA as destination Airport Set TQA as destination Airport Get more information about Tasiusaq Heliport
7314.36 miles (505.92 km) SWPond Inlet Airport (YIO)Pond Inlet, Nunavut, CanadaView Pond Inlet Airport on a map Set YIO as destination Airport Set YIO as destination Airport Get more information about Pond Inlet Airport
8322.94 miles (519.72 km) SEInnaarsuit Heliport (IUI)Innaarsuit, GreenlandView Innaarsuit Heliport on a map Set IUI as destination Airport Set IUI as destination Airport Get more information about Innaarsuit Heliport
9336.81 miles (542.05 km) NWEureka Aerodrome (YEU)Eureka, Nunavut, CanadaView Eureka Aerodrome on a map Set YEU as destination Airport Set YEU as destination Airport Get more information about Eureka Aerodrome
10344.46 miles (554.35 km) SEUpernavik Airport (JUV)Upernavik, GreenlandView Upernavik Airport on a map Set JUV as destination Airport Set JUV as destination Airport Get more information about Upernavik Airport
11345.57 miles (556.13 km) SEAappilattoq Heliport (AOQ)Aappilattoq, Qaasuitsup, GreenlandView Aappilattoq Heliport on a map Set AOQ as destination Airport Set AOQ as destination Airport Get more information about Aappilattoq Heliport
12374.63 miles (602.91 km) SEKangersuatsiaq Heliport (KGQ)Kangersuatsiaq, GreenlandView Kangersuatsiaq Heliport on a map Set KGQ as destination Airport Set KGQ as destination Airport Get more information about Kangersuatsiaq Heliport
13376.92 miles (606.58 km) WSWNanisivik Airport (YSR)Nanisivik, Nunavut, CanadaView Nanisivik Airport on a map Set YSR as destination Airport Set YSR as destination Airport Get more information about Nanisivik Airport
14381.61 miles (614.14 km) WSWArctic Bay Airport (YAB)Arctic Bay, Nunavut, CanadaView Arctic Bay Airport on a map Set YAB as destination Airport Set YAB as destination Airport Get more information about Arctic Bay Airport
15417.70 miles (672.23 km) SClyde River Airport (YCY)Clyde River, Nunavut, CanadaView Clyde River Airport on a map Set YCY as destination Airport Set YCY as destination Airport Get more information about Clyde River Airport

Map of Furthest Airports from Thule Air Base:

List of Furthest Airports from Thule Air Base:

RankDistance & DirectionAirport Name & IATA CodeAirport LocationFurther Actions
19,882.84 miles (15,904.85 km) SWHobart International Airport (HBA)Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaView Hobart International Airport on a map Set HBA as destination Airport Set HBA as destination Airport Get more information about Hobart International Airport
29,870.98 miles (15,885.76 km) WSWRyan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS)Stewart Island, New ZealandView Ryan's Creek Aerodrome on a map Set SZS as destination Airport Set SZS as destination Airport Get more information about Ryan's Creek Aerodrome
39,835.86 miles (15,829.25 km) WSWInvercargill Airport (IVC)Invercargill, New ZealandView Invercargill Airport on a map Set IVC as destination Airport Set IVC as destination Airport Get more information about Invercargill Airport
49,799.28 miles (15,770.37 km) SWLaunceston Airport (LST)Launceston, Tasmania, AustraliaView Launceston Airport on a map Set LST as destination Airport Set LST as destination Airport Get more information about Launceston Airport
59,782.86 miles (15,743.95 km) SWDevonport Airport (DPO)Devonport, Tasmania, AustraliaView Devonport Airport on a map Set DPO as destination Airport Set DPO as destination Airport Get more information about Devonport Airport
69,779.11 miles (15,737.92 km) SWBurnie Airport (BWT)Burnie, Tasmania, AustraliaView Burnie Airport on a map Set BWT as destination Airport Set BWT as destination Airport Get more information about Burnie Airport
79,775.29 miles (15,731.77 km) WSWDunedin International Airport (DUD)Dunedin, Otago, New ZealandView Dunedin International Airport on a map Set DUD as destination Airport Set DUD as destination Airport Get more information about Dunedin International Airport
89,775.14 miles (15,731.52 km) SWSmithton Airport (SIO)Smithton, Tasmania, AustraliaView Smithton Airport on a map Set SIO as destination Airport Set SIO as destination Airport Get more information about Smithton Airport
99,772.93 miles (15,727.96 km) SWSt Helens Airport (HLS)St. Helens, Tasmania, AustraliaView St Helens Airport on a map Set HLS as destination Airport Set HLS as destination Airport Get more information about St Helens Airport
109,772.19 miles (15,726.78 km) SWGeorge Town Aerodrome (GEE)George Town, Tasmania, AustraliaView George Town Aerodrome on a map Set GEE as destination Airport Set GEE as destination Airport Get more information about George Town Aerodrome
119,741.00 miles (15,676.59 km) WSWAlexandra Aerodrome (ALR)Alexandra, New ZealandView Alexandra Aerodrome on a map Set ALR as destination Airport Set ALR as destination Airport Get more information about Alexandra Aerodrome
129,738.17 miles (15,672.03 km) WSWQueenstown Airport (ZQN)Queenstown, New ZealandView Queenstown Airport on a map Set ZQN as destination Airport Set ZQN as destination Airport Get more information about Queenstown Airport
139,727.70 miles (15,655.17 km) WSWMilford Sound Airport (MFN)Milford Sound, New ZealandView Milford Sound Airport on a map Set MFN as destination Airport Set MFN as destination Airport Get more information about Milford Sound Airport
149,723.24 miles (15,648.00 km) SWKing Island Airport (KNS)Currie, Tasmania, AustraliaView King Island Airport on a map Set KNS as destination Airport Set KNS as destination Airport Get more information about King Island Airport
159,710.84 miles (15,628.05 km) WSWWanaka Airport (WKA)Wanaka, New ZealandView Wanaka Airport on a map Set WKA as destination Airport Set WKA as destination Airport Get more information about Wanaka Airport