Nonstop flight route between Cordova, Alaska, United States and Tacoma, Washington, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from CKU to GRF:
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- About this route
- CKU Airport Information
- GRF Airport Information
- Facts about CKU
- Facts about GRF
- Map of Nearest Airports to CKU
- List of Nearest Airports to CKU
- Map of Furthest Airports from CKU
- List of Furthest Airports from CKU
- 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 Cordova Municipal Airport (CKU), Cordova, Alaska, United States and Gray Army Airfield (GRF), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,312 miles (or 2,112 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 Cordova Municipal 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: | CKU / |
| Airport Names: |
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| Location: | Cordova, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 60°32'38"N by 145°43'36"W |
| Area Served: | Cordova, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 12 feet (4 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CKU |
| More Information: | CKU 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 Cordova Municipal Airport (CKU):
- In addition to being known as "Cordova Municipal Airport", another name for CKU is "(Cordova Army Airfield)".
- Cordova is also served by the Merle K.
- Because of Cordova Municipal Airport's relatively low elevation of 12 feet, planes can take off or land at Cordova Municipal 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.
- Cordova Municipal Airport (CKU) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Cordova Municipal Airport (CKU) is Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport (CDV), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) ESE of CKU.
- The furthest airport from Cordova Municipal Airport (CKU) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,561 miles (16,996 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Facts about Gray Army Airfield (GRF):
- Gray Army Airfield (GRF) currently has only 1 runway.
- The 9th Cavalry Brigade in the 1980s developed air-assault strategies with their AH-1 Cobra helicopters based upon experiences learned in Vietnam.
- 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.
- 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.
- During the Korean War, GAAF continued in the role as a training and division support field.
- Camp Lewis advocates pushed for it to be a major dirigible and fixed-wing field.
- The Air Transport Command.
- After the Korean War, the 2d Aviation Company, of the 2d Infantry Division, which had been the first helicopter unit in Korea, returned to Fort Lewis with observation/spotter aircraft L-19 Bird Dogs, and L-20 Beavers, as well as H-23 Raven helicopters.
- 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.
- In addition to being known as "Gray Army Airfield", another name for GRF is "(Joint Base Lewis-McChord)".
