Nonstop flight route between Rolla, Missouri, United States and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Rolla National Airport (VIH), Rolla, Missouri, United States and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,423 miles (or 5,509 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 Rolla National Airport and Lajes Air Base, 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 Rolla National Airport and Lajes Air Base. 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 Rolla National Airport (VIH):

• Rolla National Airport (VIH) has 2 runways.
• In addition to being known as "Rolla National Airport", another name for VIH is "(formerly Vichy Army Airfield)".
• The airfield was vacated by the Air Force in March 1946.
• The furthest airport from Rolla National Airport (VIH) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,913 miles (17,563 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• In August 1959, the USAF Air Defense Command established site "P-70C " at the airport.
• The airport was originally built by the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 as a sub-base for Sedalia Army Airfield during World War II.
• The closest airport to Rolla National Airport (VIH) is Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (TBN), which is located 33 miles (54 kilometers) SW of VIH.
• Rolla National Airport is a public use airport in Maries County, Missouri, United States.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• The United States and the United Kingdom transferred control of Lajes to Portugal in 1946.
• 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.
• Lajes provides support to 15,000 aircraft, including fighters from the US and 20 other allied nations each.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• The origin of the Lajes Field dates back to 1928, when Portuguese Army Lieutenant colonel Eduardo Gomes da Silva wrote a report on the possible construction of an airfield in the plainland of Lajes, for that branch's aviation service.
• 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 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 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.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.