Nonstop flight route between Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, United States and Tacoma, Washington, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from CIU to GRF:
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- About this route
- CIU Airport Information
- GRF Airport Information
- Facts about CIU
- Facts about GRF
- Map of Nearest Airports to CIU
- List of Nearest Airports to CIU
- Map of Furthest Airports from CIU
- List of Furthest Airports from CIU
- 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 Chippewa County International Airport (CIU), Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, United States and Gray Army Airfield (GRF), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,790 miles (or 2,880 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 relatively short distance between Chippewa County International Airport and Gray Army Airfield, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | CIU / KCIU |
| Airport Name: | Chippewa County International Airport |
| Location: | Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 46°15'2"N by 84°28'20"W |
| Area Served: | Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |
| Operator/Owner: | Chippewa County EDC |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 799 feet (244 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CIU |
| More Information: | CIU 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 Chippewa County International Airport (CIU):
- The airport opened a new passenger terminal in September 2002.
- Because of Chippewa County International Airport's relatively low elevation of 799 feet, planes can take off or land at Chippewa County International Airport 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.
- Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) has 2 runways.
- Chippewa County International Airport covers an area of 1,850 acres at an elevation of 799 feet above mean sea level.
- The closest airport to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) is Kincheloe Air Force Base (INR), which is located only 0 mile (0 kilometer) N of CIU.
- The furthest airport from Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,103 miles (17,869 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about Gray Army Airfield (GRF):
- Company A, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, conducts high-altitude search-and-rescue operations.
- 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.
- 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.
- In addition to being known as "Gray Army Airfield", another name for GRF is "(Joint Base Lewis-McChord)".
- Gray Army Airfield resides at elevation of 300 feet above mean sea level.
- The 91st Observation Squadron and aircraft of the 3rd Balloon Squadron operated out of the Fort Lewis airfield.
- With World War II, Gray Army Airfield received 1.7 million dollars for new hangars and improved facilities.
- During the Vietnam War, GAAF not only trained helicopter units, but fixed-wing aircraft units as well.
- The Washington National Guard 66th Aviation Brigade trains at Grey AAF and provides transportation support for fighting wildfires.
- Gray Army Airfield (GRF) currently has only 1 runway.
