Nonstop flight route between Ainsworth, Nebraska, United States and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW), Ainsworth, Nebraska, United States and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,708 miles (or 5,968 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 Ainsworth Regional Airport 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 Ainsworth Regional Airport 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 Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW):

• Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) has 2 runways.
• Today a handful of buildings remains from the World War II–era.
• The base closed on 31 December 1945.
• In addition to being known as "Ainsworth Regional Airport", another name for ANW is "Ainsworth Army Airfield".
• In the mid-1980s the National Scientific Balloon Facility rented space at Ainsworth for periodic balloon missions.
• The furthest airport from Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,586 miles (17,036 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• The closest airport to Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) is Miller Field (VTN), which is located 34 miles (55 kilometers) NW of ANW.
• Sixty four buildings were built at what would be known as Ainsworth Army Airfield.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• 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.
• 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 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".
• 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.
• During the Portuguese Colonial War, from 1961 to 1975, the Air Force Hospital at Lajes operated as the main centre for treatment and rehabilitation of mutilated and heavy burned soldiers of the three services of the Portuguese Armed Forces.
• 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.
• During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Lajes Field also supported U.S.
• The United States and the United Kingdom transferred control of Lajes to Portugal in 1946.
• 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.