Nonstop flight route between Bedford, Massachusetts, United States and Great Falls, Montana, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from BED to GFA:
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- BED Airport Information
- GFA Airport Information
- Facts about BED
- Facts about GFA
- Map of Nearest Airports to BED
- List of Nearest Airports to BED
- Map of Furthest Airports from BED
- List of Furthest Airports from BED
- 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 Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED), Bedford, Massachusetts, United States and Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA), Great Falls, Montana, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,958 miles (or 3,151 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 relatively short distance between Laurence G. Hanscom Field and Malmstrom Air Force Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | BED / KBED |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Bedford, Massachusetts, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 42°28'11"N by 71°17'20"W |
Operator/Owner: | Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) |
Airport Type: | Public / Military |
Elevation: | 132 feet (40 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from BED |
More Information: | BED 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 Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED):
- Hanscom's flight school that offers ratings up to ATP.
- In December 2006, pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka held negotiations with the Boston Red Sox on board a private jet owned by John Henry.
- Hanscom Field covers 1,125 acres at an elevation of 132 feet above mean sea level.
- As an airport close to Boston, many teams competing in the Boston area use Hanscom Field.
- Because of Laurence G. Hanscom Field's relatively low elevation of 132 feet, planes can take off or land at Laurence G. Hanscom Field 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.
- In addition to being known as "Laurence G. Hanscom Field", another name for BED is "Hanscom Air Force Base".
- Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED) is Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) ESE of BED.
- The furthest airport from Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,753 miles (18,914 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In its final years, Clipper would add flights to Ithaca Airport in Western NY from Hanscom.
Facts about Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA):
- Great Falls was reassigned to the Central Air Defense Force at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base in 1953.
- 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.
- 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.
- Malmstrom Air Force Base traces its beginnings back to 1939 when World War II broke out in Europe.
- Following World War II, Great Falls Army Air Base played an important role in US defense during the Cold War era.
- On 21 August 1954 the 407th SFW Vice Commander, Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom, died when his T-33 Shooting Star trainer crashed approximately one mile west of the Great Falls Municipal Airport.
- The 801st Radar Squadron was inactivated on 31 December 1969 due to budget reductions.
- In addition to being known as "Malmstrom Air Force Base", another name for GFA is "Malmstrom AFB".
- 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.
- Great Falls AAB was assigned to II Bomber Command, Second Air Force.