Nonstop flight route between Gardez, Afghanistan and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر (GRG), Gardez, Afghanistan and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,115 miles (or 8,232 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 Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر 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 Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر 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 Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر (GRG):

• Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر (GRG) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر's high elevation of 7,710 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at GRG. Combined with a high temperature, this could make GRG a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• The closest airport to Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر (GRG) is Sardeh Band Airport (SBF), which is located 41 miles (66 kilometers) WSW of GRG.
• In addition to being known as "Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر", another name for GRG is "Gardez Airport (Gardez)".
• The furthest airport from Gardez Airport د ګردیز هوائی ډګر (GRG) is Mataveri International Airport (IPC), which is located 11,983 miles (19,285 kilometers) away in Easter Island, Chile.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• In 2009 Lajes provided rescue support of shipping lanes across the Atlantic, a safe haven for medical or mechanical emergency situations in aircraft crossing the Atlantic, and support for the USAF's continuing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• 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".
• 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.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• The civilian terminal also plays an important role in support of passenger and cargo airliners, executive, corporate and private jets flying to the island or beyond as the central location in the Azores group of islands makes it an ideal spot for refuelling or stopover.
• In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force EICAP was transferred to Lajes, operating Douglas C-47, Douglas C-54 and later CASA C-212 Aviocar.
• Base Aérea das LajesBase Aérea Nº 4Aeroporto das Lajes
• 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 1947, the Portuguese Esquadra 41 started to operate from Lajes, equipped with Boeing SB-17, Grumman HU-16 Albatross, Douglas C-54 Skymaster and, later Sikorsky H-19.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.