Nonstop flight route between Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United States and Anchorage, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Marthas Vineyard Airport (MVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United States and Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), Anchorage, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,431 miles (or 5,521 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 Marthas Vineyard Airport and Elmendorf Air Force 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 Marthas Vineyard Airport and Elmendorf Air Force 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 Marthas Vineyard Airport (MVY):

• The furthest airport from Marthas Vineyard Airport (MVY) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,834 miles (19,045 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• The closest airport to Marthas Vineyard Airport (MVY) is Otis Air National Guard Base Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod (FMH), which is located only 19 miles (31 kilometers) NNE of MVY.
• The airfield was built in 1942 as Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Martha's Vineyard to support training of naval aviators prior to their deployment to aircraft carriers in the Pacific Theater.
• Marthas Vineyard Airport (MVY) has 2 runways.
• Because of Marthas Vineyard Airport's relatively low elevation of 67 feet, planes can take off or land at Marthas Vineyard 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.

Facts about Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF):

• In addition to being known as "Elmendorf Air Force Base", another name for EDF is "JB Elmendorf-Richardson".
• The first Air Force unit to be assigned to Alaska, the 18th Pursuit Squadron, arrived in February 1941.
• On 16 November 2010, a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor took off for a training mission.
• The uncertain world situation in late 1940s and early 1950s caused a major buildup of air defense forces in Alaska.
• 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.
• On 22 September 1995, a Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne early warning and control aircraft with 22 USAF personnel and two Canadian air crew members crashed after ingesting a flock of Canada Geese, killing all on board.
• 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.
• 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 closest airport to Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Merrill Field (MRI), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) SSW of EDF.