Nonstop flight route between Natuna, Riau Islands, Indonesia and Tacoma, Washington, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Ranai Airport (NTX), Natuna, Riau Islands, Indonesia and Gray Army Airfield (GRF), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,753 miles (or 12,477 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 Ranai Airport and Gray Army Airfield, 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 Ranai Airport and Gray Army Airfield. 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 Ranai Airport (NTX):

• The furthest airport from Ranai Airport (NTX) is Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport (LET), which is nearly antipodal to Ranai Airport (meaning Ranai Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport), and is located 12,320 miles (19,827 kilometers) away in Leticia, Colombia.
• The closest airport to Ranai Airport (NTX) is Matak Airport (MWK), which is located 152 miles (244 kilometers) WSW of NTX.
• Because of Ranai Airport's relatively low elevation of 7 feet, planes can take off or land at Ranai 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 "Ranai Airport", another name for NTX is "Bandar Udara Ranai".
• Ranai Airport (NTX) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Gray Army Airfield (GRF):

• After the Korean War, the 2d Aviation Company, of the 2d Infantry Division, which had been the first helicopter unit in Korea, returned to Fort Lewis with observation/spotter aircraft L-19 Bird Dogs, and L-20 Beavers, as well as H-23 Raven helicopters.
• The 1938 construction included two paved runways, a boiler plant, headquarters building, metal balloon hangar, six-plane hangar, corrugated-iron hangar, storehouse, flight-surgeon office, and film-storage building.
• Gray Army Airfield (GRF) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Gray Army Airfield (GRF) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,809 miles (17,395 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• The 91st Observation Squadron and aircraft of the 3rd Balloon Squadron operated out of the Fort Lewis airfield.
• The field is named in honor of Captain Lawrence C.
• In addition to being known as "Gray Army Airfield", another name for GRF is "(Joint Base Lewis-McChord)".
• The closest airport to Gray Army Airfield (GRF) is McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM), which is located only 6 miles (10 kilometers) NE of GRF.
• Because of Gray Army Airfield's relatively low elevation of 300 feet, planes can take off or land at Gray Army Airfield 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.