Nonstop flight route between Guizhou Province, China and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Bijie Feixiong Airport (BFJ), Guizhou Province, China and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,935 miles (or 11,161 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 Bijie Feixiong 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 Bijie Feixiong 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 Bijie Feixiong Airport (BFJ):

• In addition to being known as "Bijie Feixiong Airport", other names for BFJ include "毕节飞雄机场", "Bìjié Fēixióng Jīchǎng" and "ZUBJ".
• The furthest airport from Bijie Feixiong Airport (BFJ) is Chañaral Airport (CNR), which is nearly antipodal to Bijie Feixiong Airport (meaning Bijie Feixiong Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chañaral Airport), and is located 12,176 miles (19,595 kilometers) away in Chañaral, Atacama Region, Chile.
• The closest airport to Bijie Feixiong Airport (BFJ) is Anshun Huangguoshu Airport (AVA), which is located 80 miles (129 kilometers) SSE of BFJ.
• Bijie Feixiong Airport (BFJ) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• 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.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• 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".
• The resident Portuguese 711 Squadron "Albatrozes" was deactivated on 30 November 2006.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• In 1980, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Terceira Island.
• On January 31, 1951, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster operated by the Portuguese Air Force crashed into the sea while approaching Lajes Field, having taken off from Lisbon, Portugal, killing all 14 on board.
• 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.
• 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 Field was one of the two stopover and refueling bases for the first transatlantic crossing of non-rigid airships in 1944.
• 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.