Nonstop flight route between Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Hanzhong Xiguan Airport (HZG), Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,667 miles (or 10,730 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 Hanzhong Xiguan 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 Hanzhong Xiguan 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):

• 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.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• 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".
• 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 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.

Facts about Hanzhong Xiguan Airport (HZG):

• In addition to being known as "Hanzhong Xiguan Airport", other names for HZG include "汉中西关机场" and "Hànzhōng Xiguān Jīchǎng".
• The closest airport to Hanzhong Xiguan Airport (HZG) is Guangyuan Airport (GYS), which is located 89 miles (143 kilometers) WSW of HZG.
• The furthest airport from Hanzhong Xiguan Airport (HZG) is Viña del Mar Airport (KNA), which is nearly antipodal to Hanzhong Xiguan Airport (meaning Hanzhong Xiguan Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Viña del Mar Airport), and is located 12,349 miles (19,873 kilometers) away in Viña del Mar, Chile.
• The airport was first built in June 1937 by the Republic of China government, to replace a smaller airport that was completed only 4 years before.
• The airport has a runway that is 1,800 meters long and 30 meters wide, and a 600-meter terminal building.