Nonstop flight route between Padua, Italy and Tacoma, Washington, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA), Padua, Italy and McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,469 miles (or 8,802 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 Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport and McChord Field/McChord AFB, 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 Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport and McChord Field/McChord AFB. 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 Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA):

• Because of Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport's relatively low elevation of 44 feet, planes can take off or land at Padua “Gino Allegri” 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.
• The closest airport to Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA) is Vicenza “Tommaso Dal Molin” Airport (VIC), which is located only 20 miles (32 kilometers) NW of QPA.
• Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport", another name for QPA is "Aeroporto di Padova “Gino Allegri”".
• The furthest airport from Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (meaning Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,014 miles (19,335 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.

Facts about McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM):

• Because of McChord Field/McChord AFB's relatively low elevation of 322 feet, planes can take off or land at McChord Field/McChord AFB 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.
• McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) has 2 runways.
• Today, the successor organization to the 25th AD, the Western Air Defense Sector, is a major tenant organization at McChord, being one of two air defense sectors responsible for the security and integrity of continental United States air space.
• In 1940 McChord Field became the headquarters of the GHQ Air Force Northwest Air District, with a mission for the defense of the Pacific Northwest and Upper Great Plains regions of the United States.
• Part of Air Mobility Command
• On 28 February 1938 the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government.
• In addition to being known as "McChord Field/McChord AFB", another name for TCM is "Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)".
• The closest airport to McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) is Gray Army Airfield (GRF), which is located only 6 miles (10 kilometers) SW of TCM.
• The furthest airport from McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,803 miles (17,386 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• On 1 August 1946, McChord was assigned to the new Air Defense Command, with a mission of air defense of the United States.
• The McChord Air Museum features exhibits about McChord Field and a collection of restored military aircraft.