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Largest air force bases surpass commercial airports by land area

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Largest air force bases surpass commercial airports by land area
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Denver International Airport, | Denver

When comparing the size of the world's largest airbases to major commercial airports, military installations are notably larger. Denver International Airport, one of the largest airports globally, spans 34,000 acres but is dwarfed by the largest air force base. King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, although mostly undeveloped, is less than half the size of the biggest air force bases.

The United States Air Force (USAF), with over 5,000 aircraft, operates some of the world's largest airbases. These bases often consist mainly of restricted areas used for training rather than developed infrastructure. For instance, Edwards Air Force Base exceeds 300,000 acres in total area but has less than 20,000 acres developed.

The five largest air force bases by total area include:

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1. Eglin Air Force Base in Florida covers approximately 464,000 acres and is part of the largest military testing range in the US. It hosts significant research activities including artificial intelligence and hypersonic development.

2. Edwards Air Force Base in California spans over 301,000 acres and serves as USAF's primary testing facility with a long history dating back to World War II.

3. Pituffik Space Base in Greenland covers 233,000 acres and is notable for its challenging Arctic conditions. It transitioned from USAF to US Space Force control in 2020.

4. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska encompasses about 84,000 acres following a merger between Fort Richardson and Elmendorf AFB in 2010.

5. Andersen Air Force Base on Guam covers around 20,000 acres and plays a crucial role due to its strategic location in the Indo-Pacific region.

These bases not only serve as critical military installations but also play key roles in various research and operational capacities across different terrains worldwide.

Organizations Included in this History
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