Nonstop flight route between Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Cyril E. King Airport (STT), Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,669 miles (or 4,296 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 Cyril E. King 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 Cyril E. King 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 Cyril E. King Airport (STT):

• The airport operates one main runway, 7,000 ft × 150 ft long.
• Because of Cyril E. King Airport's relatively low elevation of 23 feet, planes can take off or land at Cyril E. King 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 Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB), which is located only 2 miles (3 kilometers) E of STT.
• The furthest airport from Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Cyril E. King Airport (meaning Cyril E. King Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,260 miles (19,731 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
• Cyril E. King Airport (STT) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.
• 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 the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.
• 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.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• In 1947, the Portuguese Esquadra 41 started to operate from Lajes, equipped with Boeing SB-17, Grumman HU-16 Albatross, Douglas C-54 Skymaster and, later Sikorsky H-19.
• 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 Portuguese Air Force continues to operate one SAR squadron Esq.
• Lajes provides support to 15,000 aircraft, including fighters from the US and 20 other allied nations each.