Nonstop flight route between Joplin, Missouri, United States and Pituffik, Greenland:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Joplin Regional Airport (JLN), Joplin, Missouri, United States and Thule Air Base (THU), Pituffik, Greenland would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,834 miles (or 4,561 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 Joplin Regional Airport and Thule 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 Joplin Regional Airport and Thule 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 Joplin Regional Airport (JLN):

• The fixed based operators at Joplin Regional Airport are Alpha Air Center and Mizzou Aviation, both located near the General Aviation terminal.
• Joplin Regional Airport (JLN) has 3 runways.
• The airport covers 970 acres at an elevation of 981 feet.
• Joplin Regional Airport is a city-owned airport five miles north of Joplin, in Jasper County, Missouri.
• The closest airport to Joplin Regional Airport (JLN) is Atkinson Municipal Airport (PTS), which is located 24 miles (39 kilometers) NNW of JLN.
• The furthest airport from Joplin Regional Airport (JLN) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,765 miles (17,324 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• Because of Joplin Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 981 feet, planes can take off or land at Joplin 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.
• On February 11, 2011, American Airlines, operated by American Eagle as Executive Airlines began service between Joplin and Dallas/Ft.

Facts about Thule Air Base (THU):

• There is only a brief period each year in the summer when sea ice thins sufficiently to send supply ships to the base.
• In 1959, the airbase was the main staging point for the construction of Camp Century, some 150 mi from the base.
• Thule Air Base is also home to the 821st Air Base Group and is responsible for air base support within the Thule Defense Area for the multinational population of "Team Thule." The base hosts the 12th Space Warning Squadron which operates a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System designed to detect and track ICBMs launched against North America.
• In addition to being known as "Thule Air Base", another name for THU is "Thule AB".
• The closest airport to Thule Air Base (THU) is Savissivik Heliport (SVR), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) ESE of THU.
• In 1949, Denmark joined NATO and abandoned its attempt to remove the United States bases.
• Thule AB was constructed in secret under the code name Operation Blue Jay, but the project was made public in September 1952.
• Thule Air Base has served as the regional hub for nearby installations, including Cape Atholl, Camp Century, Camp TUTO, Sites 1 and 2, P-Mountain, J-Site, North and South Mountains, and a research rocket firing site.
• In the winter of 1956/57 three KC-97 tankers and alternately one of two RB-47H aircraft made polar flights to inspect Soviet defenses.
• The furthest airport from Thule Air Base (THU) is Hobart International Airport (HBA), which is located 9,883 miles (15,905 kilometers) away in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.