Nonstop flight route between Montrose, Colorado, United States and Anchorage, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), Montrose, Colorado, United States and Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), Anchorage, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,371 miles (or 3,815 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 Montrose Regional Airport and Elmendorf 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 Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ):

• Montrose Regional Airport was dedicated June 25, 1988, with Chuck Yeager cutting the ribbon.
• Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) has 2 runways.
• The furthest airport from Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,040 miles (17,766 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• Because of Montrose Regional Airport's high elevation of 5,759 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MTJ. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MTJ a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• The closest airport to Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) is Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), which is located 38 miles (62 kilometers) S of MTJ.
• The airport is seasonal—many flights operate from MTJ only during the winter.

Facts about Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF):

• Air defense forces reached their zenith in 1957 with almost 200 fighter aircraft assigned to six fighter interceptor squadrons located at Elmendorf AFB and Ladd AFB.
• It is the home of the Headquarters, Alaskan Command, Alaskan NORAD Region, Joint Task Force-Alaska, Eleventh Air Force, the 673d Air Base Wing, the 3rd Wing, the 176th Wing and other Tenant Units.
• The Department of Defense proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the Base Realignment and Closure program announced on 13 May 2005.
• The closest airport to Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Merrill Field (MRI), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) SSW of EDF.
• The late 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s brought about a gradual, but significant decline in air defense forces in Alaska due to mission changes and the demands of the Vietnam War.
• The strategic importance of Elmendorf AFB was graphically realized during the spring of 1980 when the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed eight of its F-4Es to Korea to participate in exercise Team Spirit.
• On 16 November 2010, a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor took off for a training mission.
• In addition to being known as "Elmendorf Air Force Base", another name for EDF is "JB Elmendorf-Richardson".
• On 12 November 1940, the War Department formally designated what had been popularly referred to as Elmendorf Field as Fort Richardson.
• Despite a diminished number of personnel and aircraft, a turning point in Elmendorf's history occurred in 1970 with the arrival of the 43d Tactical Fighter Squadron in June 1970 from MacDill AFB, Florida.
• The furthest airport from Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,542 miles (16,965 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• The 1980s witnessed a period of growth and modernization of Elmendorf AFB.