Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Big Rapids, Michigan, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from MRI to WBR:
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- MRI Airport Information
- WBR Airport Information
- Facts about MRI
- Facts about WBR
- Map of Nearest Airports to MRI
- List of Nearest Airports to MRI
- Map of Furthest Airports from MRI
- List of Furthest Airports from MRI
- Map of Nearest Airports to WBR
- List of Nearest Airports to WBR
- Map of Furthest Airports from WBR
- List of Furthest Airports from WBR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Merrill Field (MRI), Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Roben-Hood Airport (WBR), Big Rapids, Michigan, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,822 miles (or 4,542 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 Merrill Field and Roben-Hood Airport, 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 Merrill Field and Roben-Hood Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | MRI / PAMR |
Airport Name: | Merrill Field |
Location: | Anchorage, Alaska, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 61°12'48"N by 149°50'39"W |
Operator/Owner: | Municipality of Anchorage |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 137 feet (42 meters) |
# of Runways: | 3 |
View all routes: | Routes from MRI |
More Information: | MRI Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | WBR / KRQB |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Big Rapids, Michigan, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 43°43'20"N by 85°30'15"W |
Area Served: | Big Rapids, Michigan |
Operator/Owner: | City of Big Rapids |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 990 feet (302 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from WBR |
More Information: | WBR Maps & Info |
Facts about Merrill Field (MRI):
- Because of Merrill Field's relatively low elevation of 137 feet, planes can take off or land at Merrill Field at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- The closest airport to Merrill Field (MRI) is Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) NNE of MRI.
- The offices of the Alaska Dispatch, parent company of the Anchorage Daily News, are located on Merrill Field.
- The furthest airport from Merrill Field (MRI) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,545 miles (16,970 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
- Merrill Field (MRI) has 3 runways.
- A section of the airport is built over the closed Merrill Field Land Fill.
- Merrill Field, located on the east end of 5th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska, was the only airport serving Anchorage until 1951 when the introduction of ever larger and faster commercial aircraft required that an airfield with longer and heavier runways be built.
- Merrill Field is home to the University of Alaska Anchorage's Aviation Technology Division, as well as two locally-owned flight schools, air taxi services, and fixed base operators.
Facts about Roben-Hood Airport (WBR):
- Roben-Hood Airport (WBR) has 2 runways.
- Because of Roben-Hood Airport's relatively low elevation of 990 feet, planes can take off or land at Roben-Hood Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- In 1940, some woods were removed on the northwest portion that allowed an increase of 400 feet to the “EIW” runway to 2400 feet.
- Nothing appears in the paper again until November 1970 when there was agreement between city officials, Ferris personnel, County officials, and IDC members, to improve the airport, including a 5000 runway, and the Brewer Engineering firm was hired to affect a feasibility study.
- On July 2, 1930, it was reported that a landing field had been purchased 2 weeks before due to “efforts by the American Legion”.
- The closest airport to Roben-Hood Airport (WBR) is Nartron Field (RCT), which is located only 12 miles (20 kilometers) N of WBR.
- The furthest airport from Roben-Hood Airport (WBR) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,143 miles (17,933 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In contrast to this decline, a new contingent of aviators became active at the airport, and increased the level of interest in that facility.
- In the months following the dedication there appears to be a renewed interest n obtaining a larger parcel of land for the airport, spearheaded by the Rotary Club, American Legion, Exchange Club, and the Big Rapids Board of Trade.
- In addition to being known as "Roben-Hood Airport", another name for WBR is "RQB".