Nonstop flight route between Antsiranana, Madagascar and Tacoma, Washington, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Arrachart Airport (DIE), Antsiranana, Madagascar and Gray Army Airfield (GRF), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,991 miles (or 16,079 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 Arrachart Airport and Gray Army Airfield, 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 Arrachart Airport and Gray Army Airfield. 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 Arrachart Airport (DIE):

• The closest airport to Arrachart Airport (DIE) is Ambilobe Airport (AMB), which is located 61 miles (99 kilometers) SSW of DIE.
• Arrachart Airport (DIE) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Arrachart Airport (DIE) is Ciudad Constitución Airport (CUA), which is located 10,913 miles (17,563 kilometers) away in Ciudad Constitución, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
• Because of Arrachart Airport's relatively low elevation of 374 feet, planes can take off or land at Arrachart 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.

Facts about Gray Army Airfield (GRF):

• The 91st Observation Squadron and aircraft of the 3rd Balloon Squadron operated out of the Fort Lewis airfield.
• The 9th Cavalry Brigade in the 1980s developed air-assault strategies with their AH-1 Cobra helicopters based upon experiences learned in Vietnam.
• 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)".
• The Fort Lewis airfield housed observation planes.
• The field is named in honor of Captain Lawrence C.
• 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.
• Gray Army Airfield (GRF) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• Reactivated following service in Vietnam, the 9th Infantry Division aviation units occupied GAAF in 1972.