Nonstop flight route between Perpignan, France and Fairbanks, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport (PGF), Perpignan, France and Eielson Air Force Base (EIL), Fairbanks, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,839 miles (or 7,788 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 Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport and Eielson 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 Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport and Eielson 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 Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport (PGF):

• The closest airport to Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport (PGF) is Carcassonne Airport (CCF), which is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) NW of PGF.
• The furthest airport from Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport (PGF) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport (meaning Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,356 miles (19,884 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• Because of Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport's relatively low elevation of 144 feet, planes can take off or land at Perpignan – Rivesaltes 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 "Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport", another name for PGF is "Aéroport de Perpignan – Rivesaltes".
• Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport (PGF) has 2 runways.

Facts about Eielson Air Force Base (EIL):

• Until 2007, Eielson was a front line base, deploying fighter and bomber units around the world as well as providing for the defense of Alaska.
• Eielson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska and just southeast of Moose Creek, Alaska.
• In addition to being known as "Eielson Air Force Base", another name for EIL is "Eielson AFB".
• Eielson AFB was established in 1943 as Mile 26 Satellite Field.
• The 375th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, from the 308th Bombardment Group at Tinker AFB Oklahoma, arrived at Eielson on 5 March 1949.
• The furthest airport from Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,295 miles (16,568 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• The 6th SW flew RC–135 strategic reconnaissance missions with an assigned squadron, and, with KC–135s deployed to Eielson from SAC, AFRES, and the ANG, conducted Alaska Tanker Task Force missions to support reconnaissance and numerous exercises for the Air Force and Navy.
• A year later, however, Eielson moved from under the shadow of Ladd Field when the Alaskan Air Command assumed organizational control.
• The closest airport to Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) is Ladd Army Airfield (FBK), which is located only 19 miles (31 kilometers) NW of EIL.
• The base reopened in September 1946, once again as a satellite of Ladd Field.