Nonstop flight route between Racine, Wisconsin, United States and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between John H. Batten Airport (RAC), Racine, Wisconsin, United States and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,121 miles (or 5,022 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 John H. Batten Airport and Lajes Air 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 John H. Batten Airport and Lajes Air 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 John H. Batten Airport (RAC):

• John H. Batten Airport (RAC) has 2 runways.
• During World War II, the newly established airport was used as a flight and ground school for the Army.
• The furthest airport from John H. Batten Airport (RAC) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,059 miles (17,798 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• The closest airport to John H. Batten Airport (RAC) is Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) SSW of RAC.
• Because of John H. Batten Airport's relatively low elevation of 674 feet, planes can take off or land at John H. Batten 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.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• In the summer of 1984, Lajes undertook a new mission known as "SILK PURSE." Boeing EC-135s began operating out of Lajes Field as an airborne command post for the U.S.
• The furthest airport from Lajes Air Base (TER) is Merimbula Airport (MIM), which is nearly antipodal to Lajes Air Base (meaning Lajes Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Merimbula Airport), and is located 12,229 miles (19,680 kilometers) away in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia.
• Lajes provides support to 15,000 aircraft, including fighters from the US and 20 other allied nations each.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Base Aérea das LajesBase Aérea Nº 4Aeroporto das Lajes
• The United States and the United Kingdom transferred control of Lajes to Portugal in 1946.
• In 1980, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Terceira Island.
• Because of Lajes Air Base's relatively low elevation of 180 feet, planes can take off or land at Lajes Air Base 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 1961, the Portuguese Air Force EICAP was transferred to Lajes, operating Douglas C-47, Douglas C-54 and later CASA C-212 Aviocar.
• In addition to being known as "Lajes Air Base", other names for TER include "Base Aérea das Lajes", "Base Aérea Nº 4" and "Aeroporto das Lajes".
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.