Nonstop flight route between Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Tacoma, Washington, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from RUH to GRF:
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- About this route
- RUH Airport Information
- GRF Airport Information
- Facts about RUH
- Facts about GRF
- Map of Nearest Airports to RUH
- List of Nearest Airports to RUH
- Map of Furthest Airports from RUH
- List of Furthest Airports from RUH
- Map of Nearest Airports to GRF
- List of Nearest Airports to GRF
- Map of Furthest Airports from GRF
- List of Furthest Airports from GRF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Gray Army Airfield (GRF), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,415 miles (or 11,933 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 King Khalid International Airport and Gray Army Airfield, 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 King Khalid International Airport and Gray Army Airfield. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | RUH / OERK |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
GPS Coordinates: | 24°57'28"N by 46°41'56"E |
Area Served: | Riyadh |
Operator/Owner: | The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 2049 feet (625 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from RUH |
More Information: | RUH Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | GRF / KGRF |
Airport Names: |
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Location: | Tacoma, Washington, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 47°4'45"N by 122°34'50"W |
Operator/Owner: | U.S. Army ATCA-ASO |
Airport Type: | Military |
Elevation: | 300 feet (91 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from GRF |
More Information: | GRF Maps & Info |
Facts about King Khalid International Airport (RUH):
- A general aviation complex has been constructed north of runway number 1 for use by private aircraft and is reached by a special access road which runs north from the airport access highway.
- The design of KKIA Mosque is one of the most distinct landmarks in the airport by virtue of its Islamic architecture.
- King Khalid International Airport (RUH) has 2 runways.
- The United States Air Force effectively took over these facilities temporarily from August 1990 through May 1991 as an airbase for aerial refueling tanker operations in support of the Gulf War.
- The furthest airport from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) is Totegegie Airport (GMR), which is nearly antipodal to King Khalid International Airport (meaning King Khalid International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Totegegie Airport), and is located 12,273 miles (19,752 kilometers) away in Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.
- The closest airport to King Khalid International Airport (RUH) is Dawadmi Domestic Airport (DWD), which is located 166 miles (266 kilometers) WSW of RUH.
- Heads of state and other high-ranking VIP visitors to the Kingdom are greeted in the Royal Pavilion.
- King Khalid International Airport handled 13,919,000 passengers last year.
- In addition to being known as "King Khalid International Airport", another name for RUH is "مطار الملك خالد الدولي".
Facts about Gray Army Airfield (GRF):
- After the Korean War, the 2d Aviation Company, of the 2d Infantry Division, which had been the first helicopter unit in Korea, returned to Fort Lewis with observation/spotter aircraft L-19 Bird Dogs, and L-20 Beavers, as well as H-23 Raven helicopters.
- During the Korean War, GAAF continued in the role as a training and division support field.
- In addition to being known as "Gray Army Airfield", another name for GRF is "(Joint Base Lewis-McChord)".
- In October 1921 Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” biplanes flew from the Naval Station at Sand Point to a grass airfield at what was then called "Camp Lewis", located at a site just west of today’s Gray AAF.
- With World War II, Gray Army Airfield received 1.7 million dollars for new hangars and improved facilities.
- The 9th Cavalry Brigade in the 1980s developed air-assault strategies with their AH-1 Cobra helicopters based upon experiences learned in Vietnam.
- In 1926, the War Department observing aviation expansion overseas requested additional aviation funding.
- Because of Gray Army Airfield's relatively low elevation of 300 feet, planes can take off or land at Gray Army 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.
- Gray Army Airfield (GRF) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Gray Army Airfield (GRF) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,809 miles (17,395 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- The closest airport to Gray Army Airfield (GRF) is McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM), which is located only 6 miles (10 kilometers) NE of GRF.