Nonstop flight route between Arequipa, Peru and Tacoma, Washington, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP), Arequipa, Peru and McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,399 miles (or 8,689 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 Rodríguez Ballón International Airport and McChord Field/McChord AFB, 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 Rodríguez Ballón International Airport and McChord Field/McChord AFB. 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 Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP):

• Because of Rodríguez Ballón International Airport's high elevation of 8,405 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at AQP. Combined with a high temperature, this could make AQP a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• The furthest airport from Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) is Đà Nẵng International Airport (DAD), which is nearly antipodal to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (meaning Rodríguez Ballón International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Đà Nẵng International Airport), and is located 12,412 miles (19,975 kilometers) away in Da Nang, Vietnam.
• On 18 March 1983, Douglas C-47E FAP-356 of the Fuerza Aérea del Perú was damaged beyond repair in an accident at Arequipa Airport.
• The closest airport to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) is Ilo Airport (ILQ), which is located 95 miles (153 kilometers) S of AQP.
• Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM):

• The ADC radar site was deactivated 1 April 1960 and repositioned to Fort Lawton AFS where the Air Force consolidated its anti-aircraft radars with the United States Army Seattle Defense Area Army Air-Defense Command Post S-90DC for Nike missile operations.
• The 62nd Troop Carrier Wing was reassigned to the Military Air Transport Service Continental Division on 1 July 1957 as TAC realigned its transport units.
• The furthest airport from McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,803 miles (17,386 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• The closest airport to McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) is Gray Army Airfield (GRF), which is located only 6 miles (10 kilometers) SW of TCM.
• In 1945 McChord was designated as a permanent station by the Army Air Forces.
• McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) has 2 runways.
• The 62d Operations Group flies the C-17 Globemaster III transport from McChord Field.
• Because of McChord Field/McChord AFB's relatively low elevation of 322 feet, planes can take off or land at McChord Field/McChord AFB 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.
• Other wing components are the 62d Maintenance Group, 62d Mission Support Group and 62d Medical Squadron.
• In addition to being known as "McChord Field/McChord AFB", another name for TCM is "Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)".
• The McChord Air Museum features exhibits about McChord Field and a collection of restored military aircraft.