Nonstop flight route between Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Gweru, Zimbabwe:
Departure Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Arrival Airport:
(19°26'11"S by 29°51'42"E)
Distance from BUA to GWE:
8,311.71 miles (13,376.36 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- BUA Airport Information
- GWE Airport Information
- Facts about BUA
- Facts about GWE
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to GWE
- List of Nearest Airports to GWE
- Map of Furthest Airports from GWE
- List of Furthest Airports from GWE
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE), Gweru, Zimbabwe would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,312 miles (or 13,376 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 Buka Island Airport and Gweru-Thornhill Air 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 Buka Island Airport and Gweru-Thornhill Air Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BUA / AYBK |
| Airport Name: | Buka Island Airport |
| Location: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E |
| Area Served: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 11 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BUA |
| More Information: | BUA Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GWE / FVTL |
| Airport Name: | Gweru-Thornhill Air Base |
| Location: | Gweru, Zimbabwe |
| GPS Coordinates: | 19°26'11"S by 29°51'42"E |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 4680 feet (1,426 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GWE |
| More Information: | GWE Maps & Info |
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- Buka Airport is an airport serving Buka Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Buka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 11 feet, planes can take off or land at Buka Island 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 Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- The furthest airport from Buka Island Airport (BUA) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,781 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
- On 13 May 1943 Allied reconnaissance observed 36 fighters and 6 bombers at the airstrip.
Facts about Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE):
- The furthest airport from Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is nearly antipodal to Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (meaning Gweru-Thornhill Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Hilo International Airport), and is located 12,117 miles (19,500 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- Because of Gweru-Thornhill Air Base's high elevation of 4,680 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at GWE. Combined with a high temperature, this could make GWE a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The closest airport to Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE) is Masvingo Airport (MVZ), which is located 78 miles (125 kilometers) ESE of GWE.
- Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE) has 2 runways.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 70.73 miles (113.82 km) NNW | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea |     |
| 2 | 94.46 miles (152.01 km) SE | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 136.91 miles (220.34 km) SE | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| 4 | 148.20 miles (238.51 km) SE | Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) | Choiseul Bay, Taro Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 150.79 miles (242.66 km) SSE | Mono Airport (MNY) | Stirling Island, Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 174.66 miles (281.09 km) WNW | Rabaul Airport (RAB) | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 195.74 miles (315.01 km) NW | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 198.38 miles (319.26 km) W | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 216.52 miles (348.46 km) NW | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 218.28 miles (351.28 km) W | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 238.34 miles (383.57 km) SE | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 239.73 miles (385.81 km) ESE | Kaghau Airport (KGE) | Kagau Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 268.10 miles (431.47 km) SE | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 14 | 288.56 miles (464.39 km) SSW | Guasopa Airport (GAZ) | Guasopa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 293.54 miles (472.41 km) W | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,780.59 miles (18,958.98 km) N | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,768.57 miles (18,939.63 km) N | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,768.55 miles (18,939.59 km) N | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,749.15 miles (18,908.38 km) NNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,678.23 miles (18,794.25 km) NNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,678.02 miles (18,793.91 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 8 | 11,662.10 miles (18,768.29 km) N | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,648.17 miles (18,745.87 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,647.20 miles (18,744.31 km) NW | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 11 | 11,639.22 miles (18,731.47 km) NW | Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 12 | 11,638.24 miles (18,729.88 km) NNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 13 | 11,631.66 miles (18,719.29 km) NW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 14 | 11,629.96 miles (18,716.56 km) NE | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,622.66 miles (18,704.82 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 77.66 miles (124.99 km) ESE | Masvingo Airport (MVZ) | Masvingo, Zimbabwe | |
| 2 | 90.32 miles (145.36 km) WSW | Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | |
| 3 | 131.52 miles (211.66 km) NE | Harare International Airport (HRE) | Harare, Zimbabwe | |
| 4 | 155.49 miles (250.24 km) SE | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| 5 | 182.94 miles (294.42 km) E | Mutare Airport (UTA) | Mutare, Zimbabwe | |
| 6 | 187.55 miles (301.83 km) ESE | Chipinge Airport (CHJ) | Chipinge, Zimbabwe | |
| 7 | 193.73 miles (311.78 km) WNW | Hwange National Park Airport (HWN) | Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe | |
| 8 | 195.21 miles (314.16 km) SW | Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) | Francistown, Botswana | |
| 9 | 211.50 miles (340.38 km) NNW | Kariba Airport (KAB) | Kariba, Zimbabwe | |
| 10 | 233.47 miles (375.74 km) E | Chimoio Airport (VPY) | Chimoio, Mozambique | |
| 11 | 278.99 miles (448.99 km) WNW | Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | |
| 12 | 287.01 miles (461.90 km) WNW | Livingstone Airport (LVI) | Livingstone, Zambia | |
| 13 | 298.51 miles (480.41 km) NNW | Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) | Lusaka, Zambia | |
| 14 | 305.72 miles (492.01 km) S | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 15 | 321.82 miles (517.93 km) SSE | Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) | Phalaborwa, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,116.56 miles (19,499.66 km) E | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,075.02 miles (19,432.82 km) E | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,072.70 miles (19,429.08 km) E | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,060.58 miles (19,409.57 km) E | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,051.70 miles (19,395.29 km) E | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,044.18 miles (19,383.19 km) ENE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,016.40 miles (19,338.48 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,000.16 miles (19,312.33 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,985.07 miles (19,288.05 km) ENE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,977.30 miles (19,275.55 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,970.59 miles (19,264.75 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,916.18 miles (19,177.18 km) ENE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,916.18 miles (19,177.18 km) ENE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,907.08 miles (19,162.55 km) ENE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,906.16 miles (19,161.05 km) ENE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |