Nonstop flight route between Patuxent River, Maryland, United States and Auki / Gwaunaru'u, Solomon Islands:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NHK), Patuxent River, Maryland, United States and Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport (AKS), Auki / Gwaunaru'u, Solomon Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,361 miles (or 13,456 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 Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport, 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 Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport. 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 Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NHK):

• On 1 April 1976, Patuxent River's air field was named after pioneering aviator VADM Frederick M.
• The onset of American involvement in World War II spurred establishment of the new air station.Rear Admiral John Henry Towers, Chief of Bureau of Aeronautics, requested approval and authorization to begin construction on December 22, 1941.
• During construction, housing needs far outstripped supply, and barracks were built for workers on the station.
• In addition to its role in testing naval aircraft, during the 1950s to 1970s Patuxent River served as an operational base for a Transport Squadron - VR-1, a TACAMO squadron - VQ-4, Airborne Training Unit Atlantic - AEWTULANT, and VW-11, VW-13 AN VW-15 and a number of Patrol Squadrons including VP-8, VP-44, VP-49, VP-24, VP-30 and VP-68.
• The closest airport to Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NHK) is St. Mary's County Regional Airport (LTW), which is located only 8 miles (12 kilometers) WNW of NHK.
• Because of Naval Air Station Patuxent River's relatively low elevation of 39 feet, planes can take off or land at Naval Air Station Patuxent River 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.
• Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NHK) has 3 runways.
• Since the end of the Cold War, the Pentagon's Base Realignment and Closure measures have migrated research and testing facilities for both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft to NAS Patuxent River from decommissioned bases.
• In addition to being known as "Naval Air Station Patuxent River", other names for NHK include "Trapnell Field" and "KNHK - FAA: NHK".
• The furthest airport from Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NHK) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,728 miles (18,874 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.

Facts about Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport (AKS):

• The furthest airport from Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport (AKS) is Bubaque Airport (BQE), which is nearly antipodal to Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport (meaning Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Bubaque Airport), and is located 12,140 miles (19,537 kilometers) away in Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau.
• The closest airport to Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport (AKS) is Uru Harbour Airport (ATD), which is located 26 miles (41 kilometers) ESE of AKS.