Nonstop flight route between Tacoma, Washington, United States and Buta Zega, Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Departure Airport:
(47°8'16"N by 122°28'35"W)
Arrival Airport:
(2°49'5"N by 24°47'36"E)
Distance from TCM to BZU:
8,455.50 miles (13,607.77 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- TCM Airport Information
- BZU Airport Information
- Facts about TCM
- Facts about BZU
- Map of Nearest Airports to TCM
- List of Nearest Airports to TCM
- Map of Furthest Airports from TCM
- List of Furthest Airports from TCM
- Map of Nearest Airports to BZU
- List of Nearest Airports to BZU
- Map of Furthest Airports from BZU
- List of Furthest Airports from BZU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM), Tacoma, Washington, United States and Buta Zega Airport (BZU), Buta Zega, Democratic Republic of the Congo would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,456 miles (or 13,608 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 McChord Field/McChord AFB and Buta Zega Airport, 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 McChord Field/McChord AFB and Buta Zega Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | TCM / KTCM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Tacoma, Washington, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°8'16"N by 122°28'35"W |
| Operator/Owner: | U.S. Air Force |
| Airport Type: | Military: Air Force Base |
| Elevation: | 322 feet (98 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from TCM |
| More Information: | TCM Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BZU / FZKJ |
| Airport Name: | Buta Zega Airport |
| Location: | Buta Zega, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| GPS Coordinates: | 2°49'5"N by 24°47'36"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1378 feet (420 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BZU |
| More Information: | BZU Maps & Info |
Facts about McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM):
- During 1952 and 1953, the 62nd airlifted troops, blood plasma, aircraft parts, ammunition, medical supplies, and much more, to the Far East, in support of the war in Korea.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) has 2 runways.
- The McChord Air Museum features exhibits about McChord Field and a collection of restored military aircraft.
- In addition to being known as "McChord Field/McChord AFB", another name for TCM is "Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)".
Facts about Buta Zega Airport (BZU):
- Buta Zega Airport (BZU) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Buta Zega Airport (BZU) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is nearly antipodal to Buta Zega Airport (meaning Buta Zega Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cassidy International Airport), and is located 12,073 miles (19,430 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.
- The closest airport to Buta Zega Airport (BZU) is Yangambi Airport (YAN), which is located 141 miles (228 kilometers) S of BZU.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 6.37 miles (10.24 km) SW | Gray Army Airfield (GRF) | Tacoma, Washington, United States |     |
| 2 | 10.19 miles (16.40 km) NNW | Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW) | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| 3 | 22.88 miles (36.81 km) NNE | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | SeaTac (near Seattle and Tacoma), Washington, United States | |
| 4 | 23.19 miles (37.32 km) WSW | Olympia Regional Airport (OLM) | Olympia, Washington, United States | |
| 5 | 27.41 miles (44.12 km) NNE | Renton Municipal Airport (RNT) | Renton, Washington, United States | |
| 6 | 27.85 miles (44.82 km) NNW | Bremerton National Airport (PWT) | Bremerton, Washington, United States | |
| 7 | 28.30 miles (45.55 km) NNE | King County International Airport (BFI) | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| 8 | 32.20 miles (51.82 km) WNW | Sanderson Field (SHN) | Shelton, Washington, United States | |
| 9 | 34.54 miles (55.59 km) N | Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base (LKE) | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| 10 | 43.82 miles (70.52 km) NNE | Kenmore Air (KEH) | Kenmore, Washington, United States | |
| 11 | 48.23 miles (77.63 km) SSW | South Lewis County Airport (TDO) | Toledo, Washington, United States | |
| 12 | 53.86 miles (86.68 km) N | Paine Field (PAE) | Everett, Washington, United States | |
| 13 | 61.13 miles (98.38 km) E | Easton State Airport (ESW) | Easton, Washington, United States | |
| 14 | 65.18 miles (104.90 km) NNW | Jefferson County International AirportPort Townsend Army Airfield (TWD) | Port Townsend, Washington, United States | |
| 15 | 69.70 miles (112.17 km) W | Bowerman Airport (HQM) | Hoquiam, Washington, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,803.37 miles (17,386.30 km) SSE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 10,734.45 miles (17,275.37 km) SSE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 10,649.22 miles (17,138.22 km) S | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 10,619.76 miles (17,090.81 km) S | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,610.21 miles (17,075.44 km) ESE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,605.82 miles (17,068.37 km) ESE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,591.45 miles (17,045.24 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 8 | 10,587.54 miles (17,038.95 km) ESE | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,578.77 miles (17,024.83 km) ESE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,573.50 miles (17,016.35 km) ESE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 11 | 10,572.85 miles (17,015.31 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,572.07 miles (17,014.05 km) SE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,568.44 miles (17,008.21 km) SSE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,551.61 miles (16,981.12 km) ESE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 15 | 10,549.62 miles (16,977.93 km) ESE | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 141.46 miles (227.65 km) S | Yangambi Airport (YAN) | Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 2 | 152.35 miles (245.18 km) N | Zemio Airport (IMO) | Zemio, Central African Republic | |
| 3 | 165.77 miles (266.78 km) SSE | Bangoka International Airport (FKI) | Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 4 | 190.62 miles (306.78 km) NNE | M'Boki Airport (MKI) | Obo, Central African Republic | |
| 5 | 192.86 miles (310.38 km) E | Matari Airport (IRP) | Isiro, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 6 | 194.16 miles (312.46 km) NW | Bangassou Airport (BGU) | Bangassou, Central African Republic | |
| 7 | 231.94 miles (373.27 km) W | Lisala Airport (LIQ) | Lisala, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 8 | 241.53 miles (388.70 km) NW | Bakouma Airport (BMF) | Bakouma, Central African Republic | |
| 9 | 276.77 miles (445.42 km) NNW | Yalinga Airport (AIG) | Yalinga, Central African Republic | |
| 10 | 281.36 miles (452.80 km) WNW | Gbadolite Airport (BDT) | Gbadolite, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 11 | 296.60 miles (477.33 km) SSW | Ikela Airport (IKL) | Ikela, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 12 | 320.97 miles (516.54 km) NW | Bria Airport (BIV) | Bria, Central African Republic | |
| 13 | 344.77 miles (554.86 km) SW | Boende Airport (BNB) | Boende, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 14 | 353.96 miles (569.64 km) NW | Bambari Airport (BBY) | Bambari, Central African Republic | |
| 15 | 358.46 miles (576.88 km) ESE | Beni Airport (BNC) | Beni, Nord-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,073.33 miles (19,430.09 km) SSE | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 2 | 11,780.39 miles (18,958.65 km) SE | Manihiki Island Airport (MHX) | Manihiki Island, Cook Islands | |
| 3 | 11,493.81 miles (18,497.45 km) SSW | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 11,475.26 miles (18,467.59 km) SSW | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,466.57 miles (18,453.62 km) SSW | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,437.30 miles (18,406.50 km) SSW | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,428.92 miles (18,393.01 km) SW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 11,420.68 miles (18,379.75 km) SW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 11,397.97 miles (18,343.22 km) SSW | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 11,371.63 miles (18,300.82 km) SSW | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,358.00 miles (18,278.88 km) SSW | Moorea Airport (MOZ) | Moorea, Windward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,350.12 miles (18,266.21 km) SSW | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 11,315.24 miles (18,210.07 km) SW | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,298.19 miles (18,182.64 km) E | Canton Island Airport (CIS) | Canton Island, Kiribati | |
| 15 | 11,248.53 miles (18,102.71 km) S | Mitiaro Island Airport (MOI) | Mitiaro Island, Cook Islands | |