Nonstop flight route between Shaoguan, Guangdong, China and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaoguan Guitou Airport (HSC), Shaoguan, Guangdong, China and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,346 miles (or 11,823 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 Shaoguan Guitou 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 Shaoguan Guitou 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 Shaoguan Guitou Airport (HSC):

• The closest airport to Shaoguan Guitou Airport (HSC) is Ganzhou Huangjin Airport (KOW), which is located 104 miles (167 kilometers) NE of HSC.
• In addition to being known as "Shaoguan Guitou Airport", other names for HSC include "韶关桂头机场" and "Sháoguān Guìtóu Jīchǎng".
• The furthest airport from Shaoguan Guitou Airport (HSC) is Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport (SLA), which is nearly antipodal to Shaoguan Guitou Airport (meaning Shaoguan Guitou Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport), and is located 12,367 miles (19,903 kilometers) away in Salta, Salta Province, Argentina.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• 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.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• 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 summer of 1984, Lajes undertook a new mission known as "SILK PURSE." Boeing EC-135s began operating out of Lajes Field as an airborne command post for the U.S.
• 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.
• 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".
• 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.
• By 1943, the British and American armed forces were allowed basing rights in Portugal, and the Royal Air Force took over Lajes Field as RAF Station Lajes.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.