Nonstop flight route between Pituffik, Greenland and Nikolski, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from THU to IKO:
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- About this route
- THU Airport Information
- IKO Airport Information
- Facts about THU
- Facts about IKO
- 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 IKO
- List of Nearest Airports to IKO
- Map of Furthest Airports from IKO
- List of Furthest Airports from IKO
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Thule Air Base (THU), Pituffik, Greenland and Nikolski Air Station (IKO), Nikolski, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,853 miles (or 4,592 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 Nikolski Air Station, 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 Nikolski Air Station. 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: |
|
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: | IKO / PAKO |
Airport Name: | Nikolski Air Station |
Location: | Nikolski, Alaska, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 52°56'30"N by 168°50'56"W |
Area Served: | Nikolski, Alaska |
Operator/Owner: | Aleut Corporation |
Airport Type: | Private |
Elevation: | 77 feet (23 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from IKO |
More Information: | IKO Maps & Info |
Facts about Thule Air Base (THU):
- In 1961, a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System radar was constructed at "J-Site," 21 km northeast of main base.
- After liberation, Denmark ratified the Kauffmann treaty but began efforts to take over U.S.
- Thule Air Base is the U.S.
- In the winter of 1956/57 three KC-97 tankers and alternately one of two RB-47H aircraft made polar flights to inspect Soviet defenses.
- In addition to being known as "Thule Air Base", another name for THU is "Thule AB".
- In 1959, the airbase was the main staging point for the construction of Camp Century, some 150 mi from the base.
- 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.
- 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.
- The closest airport to Thule Air Base (THU) is Savissivik Heliport (SVR), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) ESE of THU.
Facts about Nikolski Air Station (IKO):
- Nikolski Air Station (IKO) currently has only 1 runway.
- Nikolski Air Station resides at elevation of 77 feet above mean sea level.
- The furthest airport from Nikolski Air Station (IKO) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 11,076 miles (17,824 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
- The closest airport to Nikolski Air Station (IKO) is Unalaska Airport (DUT), which is located 116 miles (186 kilometers) NE of IKO.
- Because of Nikolski Air Station's relatively low elevation of 77 feet, planes can take off or land at Nikolski Air Station 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.