Nonstop flight route between Niaqornaarsuk, Greenland and Tacoma, Washington, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Niaqornaarsuk Heliport (QMK), Niaqornaarsuk, Greenland and Gray Army Airfield (GRF), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,753 miles (or 4,431 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 Niaqornaarsuk Heliport 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 Niaqornaarsuk Heliport 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 Niaqornaarsuk Heliport (QMK):

• Because of Niaqornaarsuk Heliport's relatively low elevation of 152 feet, planes can take off or land at Niaqornaarsuk Heliport 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.
• The furthest airport from Niaqornaarsuk Heliport (QMK) is Hobart International Airport (HBA), which is located 10,530 miles (16,946 kilometers) away in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
• The closest airport to Niaqornaarsuk Heliport (QMK) is Ikerasaarsuk Heliport (QRY), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) WSW of QMK.

Facts about Gray Army Airfield (GRF):

• In addition to being known as "Gray Army Airfield", another name for GRF is "(Joint Base Lewis-McChord)".
• 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 9th Cavalry Brigade in the 1980s developed air-assault strategies with their AH-1 Cobra helicopters based upon experiences learned in Vietnam.
• Company A, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, conducts high-altitude search-and-rescue operations.
• During the Korean War, GAAF continued in the role as a training and division support field.
• 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.
• Gray Army Airfield (GRF) currently has only 1 runway.
• During the Vietnam War, GAAF not only trained helicopter units, but fixed-wing aircraft units as well.
• In 1926, the War Department observing aviation expansion overseas requested additional aviation funding.
• Camp Lewis advocates pushed for it to be a major dirigible and fixed-wing field.
• Used to support Fort Lewis, Army helicopters assisted with medical evacuations at Mount Rainier National Park on numerous occasions in the 1970s.
• 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.