Nonstop flight route between Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Mbuji Mayi Airport (MJM), Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,482 miles (or 7,213 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 Mbuji Mayi 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 Mbuji Mayi 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):

• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Lajes Field or Lajes Air Base, officially designated Air Base No.
• Another important Cold War operation at Lajes was the U.S.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• 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 2009 Lajes provided rescue support of shipping lanes across the Atlantic, a safe haven for medical or mechanical emergency situations in aircraft crossing the Atlantic, and support for the USAF's continuing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• On 14 December 2012 it was announced that personnel at Lajes Field will be reduced in 2014 with a reduction of 400 military personnel and 500 family members.
• 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.
• In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.
• 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".

Facts about Mbuji Mayi Airport (MJM):

• In addition to being known as "Mbuji Mayi Airport", another name for MJM is "Mbuji Mayi Airport".
• The closest airport to Mbuji Mayi Airport (MJM) is Gandajika Airport (GDJ), which is located 50 miles (80 kilometers) SSE of MJM.
• Mbuji Mayi Airport (MJM) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Mbuji Mayi Airport (MJM) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is nearly antipodal to Mbuji Mayi Airport (meaning Mbuji Mayi Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cassidy International Airport), and is located 12,144 miles (19,544 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.