Nonstop flight route between Jackson, Mississippi, United States and Decatur, Alabama, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from HKS to DCU:
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- About this route
- HKS Airport Information
- DCU Airport Information
- Facts about HKS
- Facts about DCU
- Map of Nearest Airports to HKS
- List of Nearest Airports to HKS
- Map of Furthest Airports from HKS
- List of Furthest Airports from HKS
- Map of Nearest Airports to DCU
- List of Nearest Airports to DCU
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- List of Furthest Airports from DCU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Hawkins Field (HKS), Jackson, Mississippi, United States and Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), Decatur, Alabama, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 248 miles (or 399 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 relatively short distance between Hawkins Field and Pryor Field Regional Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | HKS / KHKS |
| Airport Names: |
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| Location: | Jackson, Mississippi, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 32°20'4"N by 90°13'20"W |
| Area Served: | Jackson, Mississippi |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Jackson |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 341 feet (104 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from HKS |
| More Information: | HKS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DCU / KDCU |
| Airport Name: | Pryor Field Regional Airport |
| Location: | Decatur, Alabama, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W |
| Area Served: | Decatur, Alabama |
| Operator/Owner: | Decatur/Athens Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 592 feet (180 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DCU |
| More Information: | DCU Maps & Info |
Facts about Hawkins Field (HKS):
- The Netherlands pilots operated from the facility as a separate entity until January 1942 when the Army Air Forces Southeast Training Center took over the base and the Dutch pilots began training under the auspices of 74th Flying Training Wing at Maxwell Field, Alabama.
- Hawkins Field covers 602 acres at an elevation of 341 feet.
- In addition to being known as "Hawkins Field", another name for HKS is "(former Jackson Army Air Base)".
- Third Air Force operated the airfield as an Air Force Reserve training center until March 31, 1949 when the United States Air Force excessed Hawkins Field and returned it to civil control.
- In 1936 the Works Progress Administration’s, Civil Conservation Corps invested $62,150 to improve the airport with a terminal building and paving of an apron.
- Because of Hawkins Field's relatively low elevation of 341 feet, planes can take off or land at Hawkins Field 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.
- Jackson Army Air Base was the name of an abandoned military base in the movie Capricorn One, where they staged a fake Mars landing.
- The closest airport to Hawkins Field (HKS) is Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) E of HKS.
- Aviation in Jackson began in 1928 with the purchase of 151 acres of pasture land in the City of Jackson known then as Davis Stock Farm, for $53,500.
- The furthest airport from Hawkins Field (HKS) is Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK), which is located 10,975 miles (17,662 kilometers) away in Cocos Islands, Australia.
- Hawkins Field (HKS) has 2 runways.
Facts about Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU):
- Because of Pryor Field Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 592 feet, planes can take off or land at Pryor Field Regional 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.
- In January 2010, the pilot training site was designated a historic landmark and added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
- Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) is Huntsville International Airport (HSV), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) E of DCU.
- Opened in October 1941 with 4,600 by 4,600 feet square all-direction turf runway.
- Flying training was performed with Fairchild PT-19s as the primary trainer.
- The furthest airport from Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,180 miles (17,992 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
