Nonstop flight route between Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United States and Tacoma, Washington, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Marthas Vineyard Airport (MVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United States and McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,549 miles (or 4,102 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 McChord Field/McChord AFB, 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 McChord Field/McChord AFB. 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):

• 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.
• Along with the TSA, the West Tisbury Police Department is in charge of the security of the airport and the ARFF department is staffed by 10 full-time firefighters.
• 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.
• Marthas Vineyard Airport (MVY) has 2 runways.
• 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.
• 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.

Facts about McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM):

• The 62d Operations Group flies the C-17 Globemaster III transport from McChord Field.
• McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) has 2 runways.
• Because of McChord Field/McChord AFB's relatively low elevation of 322 feet, planes can take off or land at McChord Field/McChord AFB 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.
• Following the end of the war in Europe, McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific as part of Air Transport Command.
• The closest airport to McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) is Gray Army Airfield (GRF), which is located only 6 miles (10 kilometers) SW of TCM.
• In 1975, TAC divested itself of its C-130 Hercules tactical airlift fleet, transferring all tactical airlift wings, groups and squadrons to MAC.
• The furthest airport from McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,803 miles (17,386 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• The McChord Air Museum features exhibits about McChord Field and a collection of restored military aircraft.
• The ADC radar site was deactivated 1 April 1960 and repositioned to Fort Lawton AFS where the Air Force consolidated its anti-aircraft radars with the United States Army Seattle Defense Area Army Air-Defense Command Post S-90DC for Nike missile operations.
• The 62d Airlift Wing is the host unit at McChord Field.
• In addition to being known as "McChord Field/McChord AFB", another name for TCM is "Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)".
• In 1945 McChord was designated as a permanent station by the Army Air Forces.