Nonstop flight route between Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Ketchikan, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from TER to WFB:
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- About this route
- TER Airport Information
- WFB Airport Information
- Facts about TER
- Facts about WFB
- Map of Nearest Airports to TER
- List of Nearest Airports to TER
- Map of Furthest Airports from TER
- List of Furthest Airports from TER
- Map of Nearest Airports to WFB
- List of Nearest Airports to WFB
- Map of Furthest Airports from WFB
- List of Furthest Airports from WFB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB), Ketchikan, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,574 miles (or 7,362 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 Lajes Air Base and Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane 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 Lajes Air Base and Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | TER / LPLA |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Lajes, Azores, Portugal |
GPS Coordinates: | 38°45'42"N by 27°5'26"W |
Area Served: | Praia da Vitória/Angra do Heroísmo |
Operator/Owner: | Portuguese Air Force/Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores |
Airport Type: | Military/Public |
Elevation: | 180 feet (55 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from TER |
More Information: | TER Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | WFB / |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 55°20'39"N by 131°39'47"W |
Area Served: | Ketchikan, Alaska |
Airport Type: | Public use |
Elevation: | 0 feet (0 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from WFB |
More Information: | WFB Maps & Info |
Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):
- In August 2006, Portuguese news agencies reported that both governments were in discussions for a new agreement that could allow the use of Lajes for the training of a permanent F-22 Raptor squadron.
- The origin of the Lajes Field dates back to 1928, when Portuguese Army Lieutenant colonel Eduardo Gomes da Silva wrote a report on the possible construction of an airfield in the plainland of Lajes, for that branch's aviation service.
- In 1980, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Terceira Island.
- During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.
- The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
- On 1 December 1943, British and U.S.
- 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.
- 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 the summer of 1984, Lajes undertook a new mission known as "SILK PURSE." Boeing EC-135s began operating out of Lajes Field as an airborne command post for the U.S.
Facts about Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB):
- The furthest airport from Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 10,613 miles (17,079 kilometers) away in Port Alfred, South Africa.
- In addition to being known as "Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base", another name for WFB is "5KE".
- The closest airport to Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB) is Ketchikan International Airport (KTN), which is located only 2 miles (3 kilometers) WNW of WFB.
- Because of Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane 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.
- As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 38,945 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 40,462 enplanements in 2009, and 43,737 in 2010.
- Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB) currently has only 1 runway.