Nonstop flight route between Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Ainsworth, Nebraska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW), Ainsworth, Nebraska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,708 miles (or 5,968 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 Lajes Air Base and Ainsworth Regional 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 Lajes Air Base and Ainsworth Regional 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 Lajes Air Base (TER):

• In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.
• Lajes provides support to 15,000 aircraft, including fighters from the US and 20 other allied nations each.
• By 1943, the British and American armed forces were allowed basing rights in Portugal, and the Royal Air Force took over Lajes Field as RAF Station Lajes.
• 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.
• 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 closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• 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.
• In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force EICAP was transferred to Lajes, operating Douglas C-47, Douglas C-54 and later CASA C-212 Aviocar.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.
• 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.

Facts about Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW):

• The primary objective of this facility was to train air crews of 540th and 543rd Bombardment Squadrons of the 383d Bombardment Group based at Rapid City Army Airfield for training with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft before being sent to the European Theater.
• In addition to being known as "Ainsworth Regional Airport", another name for ANW is "Ainsworth Army Airfield".
• In the mid-1980s the National Scientific Balloon Facility rented space at Ainsworth for periodic balloon missions.
• The furthest airport from Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,586 miles (17,036 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• The base closed on 31 December 1945.
• Ainsworth Regional Airport is seven miles northwest of Ainsworth, in Brown County, Nebraska.
• The closest airport to Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) is Miller Field (VTN), which is located 34 miles (55 kilometers) NW of ANW.
• In 1946 the United States Army Corps of Engineers issued a Revokable License to the City of Ainsworth for commercial aircraft operations at the Airfield.
• Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) has 2 runways.
• The airport covers 2,493 acres at an elevation of 2,589 feet.