Nonstop flight route between Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Mount Pleasant, Utah, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Mount Pleasant Airport (MSD), Mount Pleasant, Utah, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,338 miles (or 6,982 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 Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant 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.
• 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.
• During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters.
• 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 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".
• In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force EICAP was transferred to Lajes, operating Douglas C-47, Douglas C-54 and later CASA C-212 Aviocar.
• 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.
• 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.

Facts about Mount Pleasant Airport (MSD):

• Because of Mount Pleasant Airport's high elevation of 5,830 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MSD. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MSD a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• The furthest airport from Mount Pleasant Airport (MSD) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,037 miles (17,762 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• In addition to being known as "Mount Pleasant Airport", other names for MSD include "MSC" and "43U".
• Mount Pleasant Airport (MSD) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Mount Pleasant Airport (MSD) is Salina-Gunnison Airport (SBO), which is located 39 miles (64 kilometers) SSW of MSD.