Nonstop flight route between Wellsville, New York, United States and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Wellsville Municipal Airport (ELZ), Wellsville, New York, United States and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,647 miles (or 4,260 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 Wellsville Municipal 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 Wellsville Municipal 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 Wellsville Municipal Airport (ELZ):

• The closest airport to Wellsville Municipal Airport (ELZ) is Cattaraugus County-Olean Airport (OLE), which is located 22 miles (35 kilometers) WNW of ELZ.
• The original Wellsville airport prior to about 1970 was located several miles north of the present airport's location.
• The furthest airport from Wellsville Municipal Airport (ELZ) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,529 miles (18,554 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• Wellsville Municipal Airport (ELZ) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Wellsville Municipal Airport", another name for ELZ is "Tarantine Field".
• The single east-west runway is 5302 feet long, however only 4900 feet is available for landing.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.
• The Portuguese Air Force continues to operate one SAR squadron Esq.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization military alliance was established.
• 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".
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• 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.
• On 14 December 2012 it was announced that personnel at Lajes Field will be reduced in 2014 with a reduction of 400 military personnel and 500 family members.
• Lajes supported the large airlift during the Gulf War.
• 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.