Nonstop flight route between Beef Island (near Tortola), British Virgin Islands and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), Beef Island (near Tortola), British Virgin Islands and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,643 miles (or 4,253 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 Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and Lajes Air Base, 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 Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and Lajes Air Base. 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 Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS):

• Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport's relatively low elevation of 16 feet, planes can take off or land at Terrance B. Lettsome 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 furthest airport from Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (meaning Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,270 miles (19,746 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
• The closest airport to Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) is Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ), which is located only 8 miles (12 kilometers) W of EIS.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• Lajes supported the large airlift during the Gulf War.
• During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Lajes Air Base's relatively low elevation of 180 feet, planes can take off or land at Lajes Air Base 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.
• During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Lajes Field also supported U.S.
• The furthest airport from Lajes Air Base (TER) is Merimbula Airport (MIM), which is nearly antipodal to Lajes Air Base (meaning Lajes Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Merimbula Airport), and is located 12,229 miles (19,680 kilometers) away in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia.
• In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.
• In addition to being known as "Lajes Air Base", other names for TER include "Base Aérea das Lajes", "Base Aérea Nº 4" and "Aeroporto das Lajes".
• In August 2006, Portuguese news agencies reported that both governments were in discussions for a new agreement that could allow the use of Lajes for the training of a permanent F-22 Raptor squadron.