Nonstop flight route between Dakhla, Western Sahara and Great Falls, Montana, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from VIL to GFA:
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- About this route
- VIL Airport Information
- GFA Airport Information
- Facts about VIL
- Facts about GFA
- Map of Nearest Airports to VIL
- List of Nearest Airports to VIL
- Map of Furthest Airports from VIL
- List of Furthest Airports from VIL
- Map of Nearest Airports to GFA
- List of Nearest Airports to GFA
- Map of Furthest Airports from GFA
- List of Furthest Airports from GFA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Dakhla Airport (VIL), Dakhla, Western Sahara and Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA), Great Falls, Montana, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,259 miles (or 8,464 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 Dakhla Airport and Malmstrom Air Force 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 Dakhla Airport and Malmstrom Air Force Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | VIL / GMMH |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Dakhla, Western Sahara |
GPS Coordinates: | 23°43'5"N by 15°55'54"W |
Area Served: | Dakhla |
Operator/Owner: | Office National Des Aéroports (ONDA) / Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) |
Airport Type: | Public / Military |
Elevation: | 36 feet (11 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from VIL |
More Information: | VIL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | GFA / KGFA |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Great Falls, Montana, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 47°30'16"N by 111°11'13"W |
View all routes: | Routes from GFA |
More Information: | GFA Maps & Info |
Facts about Dakhla Airport (VIL):
- Because of Dakhla Airport's relatively low elevation of 36 feet, planes can take off or land at Dakhla 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.
- The closest airport to Dakhla Airport (VIL) is Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB), which is located 205 miles (330 kilometers) SSW of VIL.
- The furthest airport from Dakhla Airport (VIL) is Tontouta International Airport (NOU), which is nearly antipodal to Dakhla Airport (meaning Dakhla Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Tontouta International Airport), and is located 12,256 miles (19,725 kilometers) away in Noumea, New Caledonia.
- Dakhla Airport (VIL) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Dakhla Airport", another name for VIL is "GMMH/GSVO".
- The passenger terminal covers 670 square metres and is capable to handle up to 55,000 passengers per year.
- Dakhla Airport handled 4,206 passengers last year.
- The airport is operated by the Moroccan state-owned company ONDA.
Facts about Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA):
- The 801st Radar Squadron was inactivated on 31 December 1969 due to budget reductions.
- Construction of the wing's first launch facility began in March 1961 and was completed in December.
- Later, the 517th Air Transport Wing was redesginated the 1701st Air Transport Wing on 1 June 1948 when Air Transport Command was redesignated the Military Air Transport Service.
- The closest airport to Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA) is Great Falls International Airport (GTF), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) W of GFA.
- This included one of the greatest technology transfers in the history of the world.
- Malmstrom AFB is one of three US Air Force Bases that maintains and operates the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.
- The furthest airport from Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,495 miles (16,891 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Great Falls became the temporary home of the 582nd Air Resupply and Communications Wing on 1 May 1953 which was transferred from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
- In addition to being known as "Malmstrom Air Force Base", another name for GFA is "Malmstrom AFB".
- Great Falls was reassigned to the Central Air Defense Force at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base in 1953.
- DC-20 was initially under the Great Falls Air Defense Sector, established on 1 March 1959.