Nonstop flight route between Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Reed City, Michigan, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from GKE to RCT:
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- About this route
- GKE Airport Information
- RCT Airport Information
- Facts about GKE
- Facts about RCT
- Map of Nearest Airports to GKE
- List of Nearest Airports to GKE
- Map of Furthest Airports from GKE
- List of Furthest Airports from GKE
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCT
- List of Nearest Airports to RCT
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCT
- List of Furthest Airports from RCT
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE), Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Nartron Field (RCT), Reed City, Michigan, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,025 miles (or 6,477 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 NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component and Nartron Field, 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 NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component and Nartron Field. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GKE / ETNG |
| Airport Name: | NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component |
| Location: | Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| GPS Coordinates: | 50°57'38"N by 6°2'33"E |
| Operator/Owner: | NATO |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 296 feet (90 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GKE |
| More Information: | GKE Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RCT / KRCT |
| Airport Name: | Nartron Field |
| Location: | Reed City, Michigan, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 43°53'59"N by 85°31'0"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Norman Rautiola |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1055 feet (322 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCT |
| More Information: | RCT Maps & Info |
Facts about NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE):
- An Economic Impact Study compiled by the NATO E-3A Component shows a 2008 economic impact of 275.8 million euro within a 200-kilometer radius of the base.
- NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) currently has only 1 runway.
- Flying operations at Geilenkirchen ended in January 1968 and the installation was handed over to the German Air Force in March 1968.
- The furthest airport from NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,929 miles (19,198 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- E-3A Component flying operations began in February 1982 after delivery of the first E3A aircraft.
- Because of NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component's relatively low elevation of 296 feet, planes can take off or land at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component 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 Component operates seventeen Boeing E-3A AWACS aircraft all of which are based on the Boeing 707 airframe Trainer Cargo Aircraft but which have since been retired).
- The E-3A Component is NATO's first operational flying unit with multinational manning.
- The closest airport to NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) is Merzbrück Airfield (AAH), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) SSE of GKE.
Facts about Nartron Field (RCT):
- The closest airport to Nartron Field (RCT) is Roben-Hood Airport (WBR), which is located only 12 miles (20 kilometers) S of RCT.
- The airport is accessible by road from Old US Highway 131, just north of the intersection with US 10.
- An area east of runway 17/35 and north of the abandoned building is used by local RC model aircraft enthusiasts to fly model aircraft.
- The furthest airport from Nartron Field (RCT) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,137 miles (17,924 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The only runway, 17/35, is in poor condition and the surface is cracked and scattered with stones.
- Originally known as Miller Airport, the facility was purchased by Nartron Corporation in the 1970s to house its engineering and manufacturing operations.
- Nartron Field (RCT) currently has only 1 runway.
