Nonstop flight route between Pituffik, Greenland and Redstone Arsenal (near Huntsville), Alabama, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from THU to HUA:
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- About this route
- THU Airport Information
- HUA Airport Information
- Facts about THU
- Facts about HUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to THU
- List of Nearest Airports to THU
- Map of Furthest Airports from THU
- List of Furthest Airports from THU
- Map of Nearest Airports to HUA
- List of Nearest Airports to HUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from HUA
- List of Furthest Airports from HUA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Thule Air Base (THU), Pituffik, Greenland and Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA), Redstone Arsenal (near Huntsville), Alabama, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,947 miles (or 4,742 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 Thule Air Base and Redstone Army Airfield (AAF), 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 Thule Air Base and Redstone Army Airfield (AAF). You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | THU / BGTL |
| Airport Names: |
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| Location: | Pituffik, Greenland |
| GPS Coordinates: | 76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from THU |
| More Information: | THU Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | HUA / KHUA |
| Airport Name: | Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) |
| Location: | Redstone Arsenal (near Huntsville), Alabama, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°40'42"N by 86°41'4"W |
| Area Served: | Redstone Arsenal |
| Operator/Owner: | United States Army |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 685 feet (209 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from HUA |
| More Information: | HUA Maps & Info |
Facts about Thule Air Base (THU):
- In 1957 construction began on 4 Nike Missile sites around the base, and they and their radar systems were operational by the end of 1958.
- Late 1950s the DEW 1 to 4 where build as "weather stations", Thule Air Base would act as an supply station for the DYE bases.
- The furthest airport from Thule Air Base (THU) is Hobart International Airport (HBA), which is located 9,883 miles (15,905 kilometers) away in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
- Originally established as a Strategic Air Command installation, Thule would periodically serve as a dispersal base for B-36 Peacemaker and B-47 Stratojet aircraft during the 1950s, as well as providing an ideal site to test the operability and maintainability of these weapon systems in extreme cold weather.
- After liberation, Denmark ratified the Kauffmann treaty but began efforts to take over U.S.
- In addition to being known as "Thule Air Base", another name for THU is "Thule AB".
- The closest airport to Thule Air Base (THU) is Savissivik Heliport (SVR), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) ESE of THU.
- Thule Air Base is home to the 21st Space Wing's global network of sensors providing missile warning, space surveillance and space control to North American Aerospace Defense Command and Air Force Space Command.
- There is only a brief period each year in the summer when sea ice thins sufficiently to send supply ships to the base.
Facts about Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA):
- Because of Redstone Army Airfield (AAF)'s relatively low elevation of 685 feet, planes can take off or land at Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) 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.
- Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,195 miles (18,016 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA) is Huntsville International Airport (HSV), which is located only 6 miles (9 kilometers) WSW of HUA.
- On April 12, 1956, the city of Huntsville approached the commander of the airfield to talk about a new federal airway.
