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

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF), Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,897 miles (or 6,271 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 Western Nebraska 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 Western Nebraska 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.
• 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.
• 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 closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• The Portuguese Air Force continues to operate one SAR squadron Esq.
• In August 2006, Portuguese news agencies reported that both governments were in discussions for a new agreement that could allow the use of Lajes for the training of a permanent F-22 Raptor squadron.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF):

• Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) has 2 runways.
• The closest airport to Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) is Torrington Municipal Airport (TOR), which is located 32 miles (51 kilometers) WNW of BFF.
• The furthest airport from Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,729 miles (17,266 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• The base was occupied as early as 11 October 1942 and was assigned to Second Air Force.
• In 1944 base command was transferred from Second Air Force to the 1st Troop Carrier Command, and became a satellite field of Alliance Army Airfield.
• The airport covers 1,806 acres at an elevation of 3,967 feet.
• Construction began on September 7, 1942.
• In addition to being known as "Western Nebraska Regional Airport", other names for BFF include "William B. Heilig Field" and "(former Scottsbluff Army Airfield)".