Nonstop flight route between Takaka, New Zealand and Lakenheath, England, United Kingdom:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Takaka Aerodrome (KTF), Takaka, New Zealand and RAF Lakenheath (LKZ), Lakenheath, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 11,562 miles (or 18,608 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 Takaka Aerodrome and RAF Lakenheath, 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 Takaka Aerodrome and RAF Lakenheath. 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 Takaka Aerodrome (KTF):

• The closest airport to Takaka Aerodrome (KTF) is Motueka Aerodrome (MZP), which is located only 18 miles (29 kilometers) SSE of KTF.
• Because of Takaka Aerodrome's relatively low elevation of 97 feet, planes can take off or land at Takaka Aerodrome 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.
• Takaka Aerodrome (KTF) has 2 runways.
• The furthest airport from Takaka Aerodrome (KTF) is Vila Real Airport (VRL), which is nearly antipodal to Takaka Aerodrome (meaning Takaka Aerodrome is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Vila Real Airport), and is located 12,399 miles (19,955 kilometers) away in Vila Real, Portugal.

Facts about RAF Lakenheath (LKZ):

• Meanwhile on 30 April 1956, two Lockheed U-2s were airlifted to RAF Lakenheath to form CIA Detachment A.
• Aircraft of the 48th FW carry the tail code "LN".
• The closest airport to RAF Lakenheath (LKZ) is RAF Mildenhall (MHZ), which is located only 4 miles (7 kilometers) SW of LKZ.
• The furthest airport from RAF Lakenheath (LKZ) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,827 miles (19,034 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• Taking part in more than 350 operations, more than half mine-laying, 149 Squadron had one of the lowest percentage loss rates of all Stirling squadrons.
• By 1950, Lakenheath was one of three main operating bases for the U.S.
• By the time construction ended the war with Germany was over and RAF Lakenheath was put on a care and maintenance status.
• In 1940, the Air Ministry selected Lakenheath as an alternative for RAF Mildenhall and used it as a decoy airfield.