Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Saint-Étienne / Bouthéon, France:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (EBU), Saint-Étienne / Bouthéon, France would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,918 miles (or 7,914 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 Elmendorf Air Force Base and Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport, 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 Elmendorf Air Force Base and Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport. 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 Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF):

• The strategic importance of Elmendorf AFB was graphically realized during the spring of 1980 when the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed eight of its F-4Es to Korea to participate in exercise Team Spirit.
• The Department of Defense proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the Base Realignment and Closure program announced on 13 May 2005.
• Following World War II, Elmendorf assumed an increasing role in the defense of North America as the uncertain wartime relations between the United States and the Soviet Union deteriorated into the Cold War.
• The furthest airport from Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,542 miles (16,965 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• The closest airport to Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Merrill Field (MRI), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) SSW of EDF.
• The uncertain world situation in late 1940s and early 1950s caused a major buildup of air defense forces in Alaska.
• Despite a diminished number of personnel and aircraft, a turning point in Elmendorf's history occurred in 1970 with the arrival of the 43d Tactical Fighter Squadron in June 1970 from MacDill AFB, Florida.
• In addition to being known as "Elmendorf Air Force Base", another name for EDF is "JB Elmendorf-Richardson".
• The first Air Force unit to be assigned to Alaska, the 18th Pursuit Squadron, arrived in February 1941.

Facts about Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (EBU):

• The closest airport to Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (EBU) is Lyon–Bron Airport (LYN), which is located 34 miles (54 kilometers) ENE of EBU.
• In addition to being known as "Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport", another name for EBU is "Aéroport de Saint-Étienne – Bouthéon".
• The furthest airport from Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (EBU) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (meaning Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,312 miles (19,814 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (EBU) currently has only 1 runway.