Nonstop flight route between Puerto Natales, Chile and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (PNT), Puerto Natales, Chile and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,822 miles (or 10,978 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 Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield and Lajes 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 Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield and Lajes Air Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (PNT):

• In addition to being known as "Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield", other names for PNT include "Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (Puerto Natales)" and "Aeródromo Teniente Julio Gallardo".
• Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (PNT) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield's relatively low elevation of 217 feet, planes can take off or land at Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield 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 Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (PNT) is Lago Argentino Airport (ING), which is located 93 miles (150 kilometers) N of PNT.
• The furthest airport from Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (PNT) is Baikal International Airport (UUD), which is nearly antipodal to Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (meaning Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Baikal International Airport), and is located 12,427 miles (20,000 kilometers) away in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Lajes Air Base (TER) is Merimbula Airport (MIM), which is nearly antipodal to Lajes Air Base (meaning Lajes Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Merimbula Airport), and is located 12,229 miles (19,680 kilometers) away in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia.
• Today, Lajes continues to support transiting aircraft.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.
• In addition to being known as "Lajes Air Base", other names for TER include "Base Aérea das Lajes", "Base Aérea Nº 4" and "Aeroporto das Lajes".
• In 1947, the Portuguese Esquadra 41 started to operate from Lajes, equipped with Boeing SB-17, Grumman HU-16 Albatross, Douglas C-54 Skymaster and, later Sikorsky H-19.
• Because of Lajes Air Base's relatively low elevation of 180 feet, planes can take off or land at Lajes Air Base 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 2009 Lajes provided rescue support of shipping lanes across the Atlantic, a safe haven for medical or mechanical emergency situations in aircraft crossing the Atlantic, and support for the USAF's continuing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization military alliance was established.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.