Nonstop flight route between Tacoma, Washington, United States and Changsha, Hunan, China:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM), Tacoma, Washington, United States and Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX), Changsha, Hunan, China would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,185 miles (or 9,954 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 Changsha Huanghua International 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 Changsha Huanghua International Airport. 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 McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM):

• The ADC radar site was deactivated 1 April 1960 and repositioned to Fort Lawton AFS where the Air Force consolidated its anti-aircraft radars with the United States Army Seattle Defense Area Army Air-Defense Command Post S-90DC for Nike missile operations.
• 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.
• During the International Geophysical Year 1957–1958, and subsequently through 1962 the 62d TCW supported scientific stations in the Arctic Ocean by airlanding and airdropping supplies on the drifting ice.
• On 28 February 1938 the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government.
• With the departure of the 17th Bomb Group, the mission of McChord Field became supporting the Army Air Forces Training Command's mission of training of units, crews, and individuals for bombardment, fighter, and reconnaissance operations.
• In addition to being known as "McChord Field/McChord AFB", another name for TCM is "Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)".
• 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.
• 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.
• On 1 August 1946, McChord was assigned to the new Air Defense Command, with a mission of air defense of the United States.

Facts about Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX):

• Construction for the airport started on June 25, 1986, and the first flight departed on August 29, 1989.
• In addition to being known as "Changsha Huanghua International Airport", other names for CSX include "长沙黄花国际机场" and "Chángshā Huánghuā Guójì Jīchǎng".
• The furthest airport from Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX) is Coronel Felipe Varela International Airport (CTC), which is nearly antipodal to Changsha Huanghua International Airport (meaning Changsha Huanghua International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Coronel Felipe Varela International Airport), and is located 12,369 miles (19,905 kilometers) away in Catamarca, Catamarca, Argentina.
• The closest airport to Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX) is Yichun Mingyueshan Airport (YIC), which is located 72 miles (115 kilometers) ESE of CSX.
• Changsha Huanghua International Airport handled 13,684,731 passengers last year.
• Because of Changsha Huanghua International Airport's relatively low elevation of 217 feet, planes can take off or land at Changsha Huanghua International 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.
• Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX) currently has only 1 runway.
• The provincial government also has plans to construct a maglev line between Changsha Huanghua International Airport and Changsha South Railway Station.