Nonstop flight route between Fairbanks, Alaska, United States and Owerri, Nigeria:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Eielson Air Force Base (EIL), Fairbanks, Alaska, United States and Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW), Owerri, Nigeria would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,418 miles (or 11,938 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 Eielson Air Force Base and Sam Mbakwe International Cargo 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 Eielson Air Force Base and Sam Mbakwe International Cargo 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 Eielson Air Force Base (EIL):

• The Cold War seen the use of Eielson's expansive reservation as a maneuver area for the U.S.
• The furthest airport from Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,295 miles (16,568 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• A month later, contractors and civilian crews from Ladd Field started laying out the new airfield.
• Taken off deployment status in 2007 as a result of BRAC 2005, today the primary mission of the base is to support Red Flag-Alaska, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S.
• A year later, however, Eielson moved from under the shadow of Ladd Field when the Alaskan Air Command assumed organizational control.
• The closest airport to Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) is Ladd Army Airfield (FBK), which is located only 19 miles (31 kilometers) NW of EIL.
• In addition to being known as "Eielson Air Force Base", another name for EIL is "Eielson AFB".
• The 6th SW flew RC–135 strategic reconnaissance missions with an assigned squadron, and, with KC–135s deployed to Eielson from SAC, AFRES, and the ANG, conducted Alaska Tanker Task Force missions to support reconnaissance and numerous exercises for the Air Force and Navy.
• Today the 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division and the 4th Brigade 25th Infantry Division can be found training there.
• Eielson is home to the 354th Fighter Wing which is part of the Eleventh Air Force of Pacific Air Forces.

Facts about Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW):

• The furthest airport from Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW) is Canton Island Airport (CIS), which is nearly antipodal to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (meaning Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Canton Island Airport), and is located 12,238 miles (19,696 kilometers) away in Canton Island, Kiribati.
• The closest airport to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW) is Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa (PHC), which is located 33 miles (54 kilometers) SSW of QOW.
• Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport's relatively low elevation of 373 feet, planes can take off or land at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo 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.
• Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport handled 276,926 passengers last year.
• In addition to being known as "Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport", another name for QOW is "Imo Airport".