Nonstop flight route between Benghazi, Libya and Santa Maria, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Benina International Airport (BEN), Benghazi, Libya and Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,153 miles (or 11,511 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 Benina International Airport and Santa Maria Public 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 Benina International Airport and Santa Maria Public 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 Benina International Airport (BEN):

• Because of Benina International Airport's relatively low elevation of 433 feet, planes can take off or land at Benina International 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.
• In addition to being known as "Benina International Airport", another name for BEN is "مطار بنينة الدولي".
• The closest airport to Benina International Airport (BEN) is Al Bayda - Al abraq Airport (LAQ), which is located 110 miles (177 kilometers) ENE of BEN.
• The furthest airport from Benina International Airport (BEN) is Mangaia Island Airport (MGS), which is located 11,723 miles (18,866 kilometers) away in Mangaia Island, Cook Islands.
• During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces Ninth Air Force during the Eastern Desert Campaign.
• Benina International Airport (BEN) has 2 runways.
• In March 2011 , forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombed the airport.

Facts about Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX):

• After the war Santa Barbara County and the city of Santa Maria acquired the land and facilities through two grants in 1948.
• The furthest airport from Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,466 miles (18,453 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
• Because of Santa Maria Public Airport's relatively low elevation of 261 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Maria Public 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.
• Other enhancements include a new passenger terminal holding room that opened February 2008.
• Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) has 2 runways.
• In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Public Airport", another name for SMX is "Capt. G. Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria Army Airfield".
• At one point during the early 1980's Swift Aire Lines, which was based at the nearby San Luis Obispo Airport, was the only airline flying nonstop between Santa Maria and Los Angeles, primarily with Fokker F27 Friendship turboprops which the carrier had purchased new from the manufacturer.
• The closest airport to Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) SSW of SMX.
• During its use by the military Santa Maria AAF also controlled Estrella Army Airfield, near Paso Robles as an auxiliary airfield to support the pilot training activity.