Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Besançon / La Vèze, France:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome (QBQ), Besançon / La Vèze, France would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,824 miles (or 7,763 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 Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome, 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 Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome. 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):

• 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.
• 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.
• On 12 November 1940, the War Department formally designated what had been popularly referred to as Elmendorf Field as Fort Richardson.
• 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.
• In addition to being known as "Elmendorf Air Force Base", another name for EDF is "JB Elmendorf-Richardson".
• Construction on Elmendorf Field began on 8 June 1940, as a major and permanent military airfield near Anchorage.
• 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 late 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s brought about a gradual, but significant decline in air defense forces in Alaska due to mission changes and the demands of the Vietnam War.

Facts about Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome (QBQ):

• Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome (QBQ) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome", another name for QBQ is "Aérodrome de Besançon - La Vèze".
• The closest airport to Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome (QBQ) is Dole - Jura Airport (DLE), which is located 32 miles (52 kilometers) WSW of QBQ.
• The furthest airport from Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome (QBQ) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome (meaning Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,172 miles (19,589 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.