Nonstop flight route between Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates and Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT), Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates and NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE), Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,140 miles (or 5,053 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) and NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component, 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) and NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component. 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT):

• Because of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah)'s relatively low elevation of 94 feet, planes can take off or land at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) is Dibba Airport (BYB), which is located only 19 miles (31 kilometers) E of RKT.
• RAK Airways started operating in 2007 but suspended regular operations in 2008 due to the economic crisis.
• Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah)", another name for RKT is "مطار رأس الخيمة الدولي".
• The furthest airport from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) is Totegegie Airport (GMR), which is located 11,734 miles (18,883 kilometers) away in Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.

Facts about NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE):

• The furthest airport from NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,929 miles (19,198 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• Major construction on the base initially included a new 3,000-metre runway with a width of 45 metres, as well as aprons and taxiways, a control tower, an Information Technology Wing building, on-base accommodation and major renovation of the four existing hangars.
• The fleet of E-3's has remained in operation since the Cold War and has adapted its mission to emerging security threats, primarily in European airspace.
• The E-3A Component is NATO's first­ operational flying unit with multinational manning.
• NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component's relatively low elevation of 296 feet, planes can take off or land at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component 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.
• Surrounded by farmland and a natural woodland reserve, the base was originally built by the Royal Air Force after World War II and operated as RAF Geilenkirchen from 1953 onwards.
• The closest airport to NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) is Merzbrück Airfield (AAH), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) SSE of GKE.
• The E-3A Component directly employs more than 3,000 personnel at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen and therefore has a significant economic impact in the surrounding communities.