Nonstop flight route between Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom and Kolwezi, Lualaba District, Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Departure Airport:
(51°36'59"N by 1°5'44"W)
Arrival Airport:
(10°45'56"S by 25°30'20"E)
Distance from BEX to KWZ:
4,593.63 miles (7,392.72 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- BEX Airport Information
- KWZ Airport Information
- Facts about BEX
- Facts about KWZ
- Map of Nearest Airports to BEX
- List of Nearest Airports to BEX
- Map of Furthest Airports from BEX
- List of Furthest Airports from BEX
- Map of Nearest Airports to KWZ
- List of Nearest Airports to KWZ
- Map of Furthest Airports from KWZ
- List of Furthest Airports from KWZ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between RAF Benson (BEX), Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom and Kolwezi Airport (KWZ), Kolwezi, Lualaba District, Democratic Republic of the Congo would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,594 miles (or 7,393 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 RAF Benson and Kolwezi 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 RAF Benson and Kolwezi Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BEX / EGUB |
| Airport Name: | RAF Benson |
| Location: | Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°36'59"N by 1°5'44"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Defence |
| View all routes: | Routes from BEX |
| More Information: | BEX Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | KWZ / FZQM |
| Airport Name: | Kolwezi Airport |
| Location: | Kolwezi, Lualaba District, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| GPS Coordinates: | 10°45'56"S by 25°30'20"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5007 feet (1,526 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from KWZ |
| More Information: | KWZ Maps & Info |
Facts about RAF Benson (BEX):
- The station retained a reconnaissance role for some years after the war, with Avro Lancaster, Spitfire, Mosquito, Gloster Meteor PR.Mk 10 and English Electric Canberra PR.Mk 3 aircraft.
- The closest airport to RAF Benson (BEX) is RAF High Wycombe (HYC), which is located only 13 miles (22 kilometers) ENE of BEX.
- The King's Flight moved from RAF Hendon and would stay until after the war, moving to RAF Northolt in 1995.
- The furthest airport from RAF Benson (BEX) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,879 miles (19,118 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
- The Battles were replaced in December 1940 with Vickers Wellington medium bombers.
Facts about Kolwezi Airport (KWZ):
- The furthest airport from Kolwezi Airport (KWZ) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,817 miles (19,018 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Kolwezi Airport (KWZ) is Solwezi Airport (SLI), which is located 113 miles (183 kilometers) SSE of KWZ.
- Kolwezi Airport (KWZ) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Kolwezi Airport's high elevation of 5,007 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at KWZ. Combined with a high temperature, this could make KWZ a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 13.38 miles (21.53 km) ENE | RAF High Wycombe (HYC) | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |     |
| 2 | 18.01 miles (28.98 km) NNW | Oxford Airport (OXF) | Oxford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 22.84 miles (36.76 km) WNW | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) | Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 22.86 miles (36.79 km) SSE | Blackbushe Airport (BBS) | Yateley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 27.22 miles (43.81 km) SSE | RAF Odiham (ODH) | Odiham, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 27.27 miles (43.88 km) SSE | Farnborough Airport (FAB) | Farnborough, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 28.90 miles (46.51 km) ESE | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 29.41 miles (47.34 km) E | RAF Northolt (NHT) | Ruislip, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 29.77 miles (47.92 km) S | Lasham Airfield (QLA) | Lasham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 30.10 miles (48.45 km) W | RAF Fairford (FFD) | Fairford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 32.59 miles (52.45 km) NNE | Milton Keynes Airport (KYN) | Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 35.88 miles (57.74 km) ENE | London Luton Airport (LTN) | Luton (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 37.64 miles (60.57 km) ENE | Hatfield Aerodrome (HTF) | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 39.31 miles (63.26 km) W | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 47.38 miles (76.26 km) SSW | Southampton Airport (SOU) | Eastleigh (near Southampton), England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,879.28 miles (19,117.81 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,856.22 miles (19,080.68 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,854.23 miles (19,077.49 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,851.63 miles (19,073.31 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,838.05 miles (19,051.45 km) ESE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,819.81 miles (19,022.09 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,815.78 miles (19,015.60 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,810.58 miles (19,007.24 km) SE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,802.08 miles (18,993.57 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,785.98 miles (18,967.65 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,785.41 miles (18,966.73 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,767.06 miles (18,937.19 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,759.25 miles (18,924.64 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,754.85 miles (18,917.55 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,740.74 miles (18,894.85 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 113.43 miles (182.55 km) SSE | Solwezi Airport (SLI) | Solwezi, Zambia | |
| 2 | 147.76 miles (237.79 km) N | Kamina Air Base (KMN) | Kamina, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 3 | 148.65 miles (239.22 km) ESE | Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) | Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 4 | 191.96 miles (308.92 km) WSW | Cazombo Airport (CAV) | Cazombo, Angola | |
| 5 | 204.19 miles (328.62 km) SE | Kasompe Airport (CGJ) | Chingola, Zambia | |
| 6 | 222.37 miles (357.86 km) W | Villa Teixeira de Sousa Airport (UAL) | Luau, Moxico, Angola | |
| 7 | 230.06 miles (370.25 km) E | Mansa Airport (MNS) | Mansa, Luapula Province, Zambia | |
| 8 | 231.76 miles (372.98 km) SE | Southdowns Airport (KIW) | Kitwe, Zambia | |
| 9 | 250.89 miles (403.77 km) SW | Zambezi Airport (BBZ) | Zambezi, Zambia | |
| 10 | 263.25 miles (423.66 km) SE | Ndola Airport (NLA) | Ndola, Zambia | |
| 11 | 282.48 miles (454.60 km) S | Kaoma Airport (KMZ) | Kaoma, Zambia | |
| 12 | 292.09 miles (470.08 km) SSW | Lukulu Airport (LXU) | Lukulu, Zambia | |
| 13 | 298.20 miles (479.91 km) NNW | Gandajika Airport (GDJ) | Gandajika, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 14 | 347.14 miles (558.66 km) NNW | Mbuji Mayi Airport (MJM) | Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 15 | 347.94 miles (559.95 km) SSW | Mongu Airport (MNR) | Mongu, Western Province, Zambia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,817.01 miles (19,017.58 km) N | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,808.28 miles (19,003.53 km) N | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,804.57 miles (18,997.57 km) N | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,799.34 miles (18,989.15 km) NNE | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 5 | 11,793.92 miles (18,980.43 km) N | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,774.20 miles (18,948.69 km) N | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,736.50 miles (18,888.02 km) N | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,725.54 miles (18,870.39 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,724.99 miles (18,869.50 km) N | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,717.56 miles (18,857.53 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,698.67 miles (18,827.14 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,696.61 miles (18,823.82 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,673.08 miles (18,785.95 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,673.08 miles (18,785.95 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,670.85 miles (18,782.37 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |