Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from MRI to AFF:
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- MRI Airport Information
- AFF Airport Information
- Facts about MRI
- Facts about AFF
- Map of Nearest Airports to MRI
- List of Nearest Airports to MRI
- Map of Furthest Airports from MRI
- List of Furthest Airports from MRI
- Map of Nearest Airports to AFF
- List of Nearest Airports to AFF
- Map of Furthest Airports from AFF
- List of Furthest Airports from AFF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Merrill Field (MRI), Anchorage, Alaska, United States and United States Air Force Academy (AFF), Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,439 miles (or 3,925 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 Merrill Field and United States Air Force Academy, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MRI / PAMR |
| Airport Name: | Merrill Field |
| Location: | Anchorage, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 61°12'48"N by 149°50'39"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Municipality of Anchorage |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 137 feet (42 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MRI |
| More Information: | MRI Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | AFF / KAFF |
| Airport Name: | United States Air Force Academy |
| Location: | Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 38°59'25"N by 104°51'29"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from AFF |
| More Information: | AFF Maps & Info |
Facts about Merrill Field (MRI):
- The airstrip is still in use today as the primary field for private wheel equipped aircraft in the warmer months and for ski equipped in the winter.
- Because of Merrill Field's relatively low elevation of 137 feet, planes can take off or land at Merrill 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.
- Merrill Field is home to the University of Alaska Anchorage's Aviation Technology Division, as well as two locally-owned flight schools, air taxi services, and fixed base operators.
- Merrill Field (MRI) has 3 runways.
- The closest airport to Merrill Field (MRI) is Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) NNE of MRI.
- The furthest airport from Merrill Field (MRI) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,545 miles (16,970 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Facts about United States Air Force Academy (AFF):
- The Academy's permanent site had not yet been completed when the first class entered, so the 306 cadets from the Class of 1959 were sworn in at a temporary site at Lowry Air Force Base, in Denver on 11 July 1955.
- The Cadet Honor Code is the cornerstone of a cadet's professional training and development – the minimum standard of ethical conduct that cadets expect of themselves and their fellow cadets.
- One of the most significant events in the history of the Academy was the admission of women.
- The closest airport to United States Air Force Academy (AFF) is City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), which is located only 15 miles (25 kilometers) SSE of AFF.
- The furthest airport from United States Air Force Academy (AFF) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,934 miles (17,596 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Many displays around the Cadet Area commemorate heroes and air power pioneers, and serve as an inspiration to cadets.
- The Vietnam War was the first war in which Academy graduates fought and died.
