Nonstop flight route between Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States and Mthatha, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(47°57'39"N by 97°24'3"W)
Arrival Airport:
(31°32'47"S by 28°40'31"E)
Distance from RDR to UTT:
9,426.88 miles (15,171.06 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RDR Airport Information
- UTT Airport Information
- Facts about RDR
- Facts about UTT
- Map of Nearest Airports to RDR
- List of Nearest Airports to RDR
- Map of Furthest Airports from RDR
- List of Furthest Airports from RDR
- Map of Nearest Airports to UTT
- List of Nearest Airports to UTT
- Map of Furthest Airports from UTT
- List of Furthest Airports from UTT
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR), Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States and Mthatha Airport (UTT), Mthatha, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,427 miles (or 15,171 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 Grand Forks Air Force Base and Mthatha 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 Grand Forks Air Force Base and Mthatha Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RDR / KRDR |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°57'39"N by 97°24'3"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from RDR |
| More Information: | RDR Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | UTT / FAUT |
| Airport Name: | Mthatha Airport |
| Location: | Mthatha, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 31°32'47"S by 28°40'31"E |
| Area Served: | Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Provincial Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2429 feet (740 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from UTT |
| More Information: | UTT Maps & Info |
Facts about Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR):
- On 1 September 1958, the Strategic Air Command established the 4133d Strategic Wing at Grand Forks as part of its plan to disperse its B-52 heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.
- In addition to being known as "Grand Forks Air Force Base", another name for RDR is "Grand Forks AFB".
- The 4133d SW was redesignated as the 319th Bombardment Wing on 1 February 1963 in a name-only redesigation and was assigned to SAC's Second Air Force, 810th Strategic Aerospace Division.
- Opened 57 years ago in early 1957, the base's current host unit is the 319th Air Base Wing assigned to the Expeditionary Center of the Air Mobility Command.
- The closest airport to Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR) is Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), which is located only 10 miles (17 kilometers) E of RDR.
- The furthest airport from Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,504 miles (16,904 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In March 1995, the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission selected the 321st Strategic Missile Wing for inactivation.
- SAGE operations were extremely expansive and GFADS was inactivated on 1 December 1963, when it was merged with the Minot Air Defense Sector at Minot AFB to the west.
Facts about Mthatha Airport (UTT):
- Mthatha Airport (UTT) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Mthatha Airport (UTT) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,642 miles (18,736 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Mthatha Airport (UTT) is Margate Airport (MGH), which is located 109 miles (176 kilometers) ENE of UTT.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.44 miles (16.81 km) E | Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |     |
| 2 | 37.05 miles (59.62 km) ESE | Crookston Municipal Airport (CKN) | Crookston, Minnesota, United States | |
| 3 | 56.67 miles (91.20 km) E | Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF) | Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States | |
| 4 | 68.20 miles (109.76 km) N | Pembina Municipal Airport (PMB) | Pembina, North Dakota, United States | |
| 5 | 70.43 miles (113.35 km) W | Devils Lake Regional Airport (DVL) | Devils Lake, North Dakota, United States | |
| 6 | 76.92 miles (123.79 km) SSE | Hector International Airport (FAR) | Fargo, North Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 92.95 miles (149.59 km) SW | Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS) | Jamestown, North Dakota, United States | |
| 8 | 105.78 miles (170.23 km) SE | Detroit Lakes Airport (DTL) | Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, United States | |
| 9 | 115.91 miles (186.54 km) NE | Warroad International Memorial Airport (RRT) | Warroad, Minnesota, United States | |
| 10 | 118.75 miles (191.11 km) ESE | Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI) | Bemidji, Minnesota, United States | |
| 11 | 124.36 miles (200.14 km) SSE | Harry Stern Airport (WAH) | Wahpeton, North Dakota, United States | |
| 12 | 129.78 miles (208.86 km) SSE | Fergus Falls Municipal Airport (FFM) | Fergus Falls, Minnesota, United States | |
| 13 | 134.85 miles (217.03 km) N | Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG) | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| 14 | 138.60 miles (223.05 km) ENE | Baudette International Airport (BDE) | Baudette, Minnesota, United States | |
| 15 | 139.90 miles (225.15 km) NNW | Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport (YPG) | Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,503.85 miles (16,904.27 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,479.86 miles (16,865.66 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,472.61 miles (16,853.99 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,453.90 miles (16,823.87 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,427.01 miles (16,780.60 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,397.22 miles (16,732.65 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,386.62 miles (16,715.61 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,380.61 miles (16,705.93 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,375.61 miles (16,697.88 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,336.89 miles (16,635.57 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,276.91 miles (16,539.04 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,242.01 miles (16,482.88 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,239.13 miles (16,478.24 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,226.99 miles (16,458.70 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,211.16 miles (16,433.23 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 109.39 miles (176.05 km) ENE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 2 | 114.31 miles (183.96 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 3 | 114.39 miles (184.10 km) N | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 123.55 miles (198.83 km) NNW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 5 | 125.17 miles (201.45 km) N | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 147.60 miles (237.54 km) NW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 158.26 miles (254.69 km) N | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 158.75 miles (255.49 km) NNW | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 166.52 miles (267.98 km) NE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 10 | 173.72 miles (279.57 km) SW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 11 | 189.60 miles (305.13 km) NNW | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 196.76 miles (316.66 km) NE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 13 | 214.85 miles (345.77 km) NNE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 14 | 220.71 miles (355.19 km) NW | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 15 | 245.11 miles (394.47 km) SW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,642.06 miles (18,736.04 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,639.36 miles (18,731.70 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,636.25 miles (18,726.68 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,635.06 miles (18,724.77 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,634.31 miles (18,723.56 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,628.23 miles (18,713.77 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,627.58 miles (18,712.73 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,621.20 miles (18,702.45 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,621.20 miles (18,702.45 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,620.94 miles (18,702.05 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,615.92 miles (18,693.96 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,615.88 miles (18,693.90 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,611.81 miles (18,687.35 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,608.22 miles (18,681.57 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,597.70 miles (18,664.64 km) NE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |