Nonstop flight route between Independence, Kansas, United States and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Independence Municipal Airport (IDP), Independence, Kansas, United States and Kincheloe Air Force Base (INR), Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 856 miles (or 1,377 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 Independence Municipal Airport and Kincheloe Air Force Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Independence Municipal Airport (IDP):

• Because of Independence Municipal Airport's relatively low elevation of 825 feet, planes can take off or land at Independence Municipal 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.
• Independence Municipal Airport (IDP) has 2 runways.
• The furthest airport from Independence Municipal Airport (IDP) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,698 miles (17,217 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• Independence Municipal Airport is six miles southwest of Independence, in Montgomery County, Kansas.
• The closest airport to Independence Municipal Airport (IDP) is Coffeyville Municipal Airport (CFV), which is located only 12 miles (20 kilometers) ESE of IDP.
• In addition to being known as "Independence Municipal Airport", another name for IDP is "(former Independence AAF)".

Facts about Kincheloe Air Force Base (INR):

• The closest airport to Kincheloe Air Force Base (INR) is Chippewa County International Airport (CIU), which is located only 0 mile (0 kilometer) N of INR.
• In the 1950s, the Air Force adopted a policy of dispersing Strategic Air Command bombers and tankers.
• In May 1958 the 438th FIS was temporarily transferred to K.
• With the outbreak of the Cold War in 1948 and active combat in the Korean War in June, 1950, the United States began building up its defenses.
• The furthest airport from Kincheloe Air Force Base (INR) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,103 miles (17,869 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• In 1962, in order to retain the lineage of its MAJCOM 4-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCOM strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate AFCON units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history.
• Next, Kincheloe AFB was assigned to the Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector at K.
• In October, 1952, the 4685th Air Base Squadron was assigned to the reactivated Kinross AFB.
• On 2 February 1959, Strategic Air Command established the 4239th Strategic Wing at Kincheloe AFB, Michigan as part of SAC's plan to disburse its B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.