Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from MRI to AFF:
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- 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 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.
- The closest airport to Merrill Field (MRI) is Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) NNE of MRI.
- 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.
- A section of the airport is built over the closed Merrill Field Land Fill.
- Merrill Field (MRI) has 3 runways.
Facts about United States Air Force Academy (AFF):
- Many of the women from those early classes went on to achieve success within the Cadet Wing and after graduation.
- The main buildings in the Cadet Area are set around a large, square pavilion known as ‘‘the Terrazzo’‘.
- 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.
- The ‘‘Core Values Ramp’‘ leads down from the main Terrazzo level toward the parade field.
- The Class of 1959 established many other important traditions that continue until the present.
- The buildings in the Cadet Area were designed in a distinct, modernist style, and make extensive use of aluminum on building exteriors, suggesting the outer skin of aircraft or spacecraft.
- The most controversial aspect of the SOM-designed Air Force Academy was its chapel.
- Many Academy graduates of this era served with distinction in the Vietnam War.
- 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 United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School is a program offered to selected individuals who were not able to obtain appointments directly to the Academy.
