Nonstop flight route between Patuxent River, Maryland, United States and Circle, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NHK), Patuxent River, Maryland, United States and Circle City Airport (IRC), Circle, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,218 miles (or 5,179 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 Circle City 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 Circle City 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):

• 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.
• 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.
• In addition to being known as "Naval Air Station Patuxent River", other names for NHK include "Trapnell Field" and "KNHK - FAA: NHK".
• During construction, housing needs far outstripped supply, and barracks were built for workers on the station.
• Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NHK) has 3 runways.
• It is home to Headquarters, Naval Air Systems Command, the U.S.
• 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.
• The base was also was used as a filming location for the Harrison Ford film Random Hearts.
• 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.
• Commissioned on April 1, 1943 on land largely acquired through eminent domain, the air station grew rapidly in response to World War II and continued to evolve through the Cold War to the present.
• Research and development at NAS Patuxent River forged ahead in the 1970s.

Facts about Circle City Airport (IRC):

• As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 303 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 377 enplanements in 2009, and 355 in 2010.
• Circle City Airport (IRC) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Circle City Airport's relatively low elevation of 613 feet, planes can take off or land at Circle City 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.
• In addition to being known as "Circle City Airport", another name for IRC is "CRC".
• The furthest airport from Circle City Airport (IRC) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,196 miles (16,409 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• The closest airport to Circle City Airport (IRC) is Central Airport (CEM), which is located 27 miles (43 kilometers) SW of IRC.