Nonstop flight route between Sikeston, Missouri, United States and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield (SIK), Sikeston, Missouri, United States and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,343 miles (or 5,380 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 Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield 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 Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield 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 Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield (SIK):

• Because of Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield's relatively low elevation of 315 feet, planes can take off or land at Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks 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.
• Inactivated on October 16, 1944 with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program.
• The furthest airport from Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield (SIK) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,037 miles (17,762 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield (SIK) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield (SIK) is Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI), which is located 23 miles (36 kilometers) N of SIK.
• Sikeston Memorial Municipal Airport covers an area of 732 acres at an elevation of 315 feet above mean sea level.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• 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.
• 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.
• During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.
• Base Aérea das LajesBase Aérea Nº 4Aeroporto das Lajes
• 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.
• Today, Lajes continues to support transiting aircraft.
• 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".
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.