Nonstop flight route between Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, United States and Buka Island, Papua New Guinea:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK), Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, United States and Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,716 miles (or 12,418 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 Volk Field Air National Guard Base and Buka Island 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 Volk Field Air National Guard Base and Buka Island 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 Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK):

• The origin of the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center can be traced back to 1888 when the State Adjutant General, General Chandler Chapman, purchased a site for a rifle range and offered it to the state for a camp.
• The furthest airport from Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,917 miles (17,570 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• During the Cuban missile crisis a majority of B-47 bombers with capability to drop nuclear payloads were "dispersed" to Volk, among other bases, to make it harder for the Soviets to threaten USAF assets.
• The closest airport to Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK) is Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport (CMY), which is located 24 miles (39 kilometers) W of VOK.
• Because of Volk Field Air National Guard Base's relatively low elevation of 912 feet, planes can take off or land at Volk Field Air National Guard 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.
• Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK) currently has only 1 runway.
• By 1903 the camp had expanded to over 800 acres and was used for training by the then reorganized National Guard.

Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):

• On 26 July, an Imperial Japanese Navy special detachment was sent to inspect Buka Airfield, but considered it unacceptable as a prospect for a speedily constructed major airfield.
• Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
• It is located at the southern end of the island, near Buka Passage behind the town of Buka, and pre-war Chinatown.
• The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
• The furthest airport from Buka Island Airport (BUA) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,781 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
• There is one navigational aid, the Buka NDB situated on nearby Sohano Island.
• Today the airport is the primary air portal into Bougainville, and even 60 years after the war, wreckage from the military use of the airfield by the Japanese and Americans is easily found in the area.
• Because of Buka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 11 feet, planes can take off or land at Buka Island Airport 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.