Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Georgetown, Cayman Islands:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM), Georgetown, Cayman Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,342 miles (or 6,988 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 Owen Roberts International 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 Owen Roberts International 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 closest airport to Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Merrill Field (MRI), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) SSW of EDF.
• 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 installation hosts the headquarters for the United States Alaskan Command, 11th Air Force, U.S.
• In addition to being known as "Elmendorf Air Force Base", another name for EDF is "JB Elmendorf-Richardson".
• The 1980s witnessed a period of growth and modernization of Elmendorf AFB.
• That importance was further recognized when the F-15E Strike Eagle equipped 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron was reassigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base from Clark Air Base in the Philippines in May 1991.
• The uncertain world situation in late 1940s and early 1950s caused a major buildup of air defense forces in Alaska.
• 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.

Facts about Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM):

• Because of Owen Roberts International Airport's relatively low elevation of 8 feet, planes can take off or land at Owen Roberts 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.
• The closest airport to Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) is Edward Bodden Airfield - Little Cayman (LYB), which is located 87 miles (140 kilometers) ENE of GCM.
• The furthest airport from Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) is Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK), which is located 11,931 miles (19,202 kilometers) away in Cocos Islands, Australia.
• Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) currently has only 1 runway.
• In 1952, after Owen Roberts convinced the commissioners of the country to construct airports on all three Cayman Islands, a 5,000 ft runway, along with a terminal was constructed on Grand Cayman at the cost of £100,000.
• Additional renovations completed in 2012 include refurbishing the departure hall interior and livening up the passport control and customs hall with aquatic paintings and use of an aggressive digital advertising campaign in the baggage claim area.