Nonstop flight route between Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Lompoc, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Arrival Airport:
(34°43'57"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from BUA to VBG:
6,135.70 miles (9,874.42 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- BUA Airport Information
- VBG Airport Information
- Facts about BUA
- Facts about VBG
- 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 VBG
- List of Nearest Airports to VBG
- Map of Furthest Airports from VBG
- List of Furthest Airports from VBG
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG), Lompoc, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,136 miles (or 9,874 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 Vandenberg 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 Buka Island Airport and Vandenberg 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: | 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: | VBG / KVBG |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Lompoc, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°43'57"N by 120°34'5"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from VBG |
| More Information: | VBG Maps & Info |
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- 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 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.
- It is located at the southern end of the island, near Buka Passage behind the town of Buka, and pre-war Chinatown.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG):
- In addition to being known as "Vandenberg Air Force Base", another name for VBG is "Vandenberg AFB".
- The closest airport to Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) is Lompoc Airport (LPC), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SE of VBG.
- The furthest airport from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,479 miles (18,473 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- 576th Flight Test Squadron
- Although the construction of Camp Cooke continued well into 1942, troop training did not wait.
| 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 | 7.35 miles (11.82 km) SE | Lompoc Airport (LPC) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 2 | 13.10 miles (21.08 km) NNE | Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) | Santa Maria, California, United States | |
| 3 | 29.30 miles (47.15 km) ESE | Santa Ynez Airport (SQA) | Santa Ynez, California, United States | |
| 4 | 35.10 miles (56.49 km) N | San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) | San Luis Obispo, California, United States | |
| 5 | 42.19 miles (67.90 km) NNW | O'Sullivan Army Heliport (CSL) | Camp San Luis Obispo, California, United States | |
| 6 | 46.50 miles (74.83 km) ESE | Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 7 | 59.51 miles (95.77 km) SE | Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 8 | 65.05 miles (104.69 km) N | Paso Robles Municipal AirportEstrella Army Airfield (PRB) | Paso Robles, California, United States | |
| 9 | 75.45 miles (121.42 km) N | Roberts Army Heliport (SYL) | Camp Roberts, San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | |
| 10 | 85.78 miles (138.05 km) ESE | Oxnard Airport (OXR) | Oxnard, California, United States | |
| 11 | 89.78 miles (144.48 km) ESE | Santa Paula Airport (SZP) | Santa Paula, California, United States | |
| 12 | 92.68 miles (149.15 km) ESE | Naval Air Station Point Mugu (NTD) | Point Mugu, California, United States | |
| 13 | 94.37 miles (151.87 km) NE | Shafter Airport (MIT) | Shafter, California, United States | |
| 14 | 98.18 miles (158.01 km) ENE | Meadows Field (BFL) | Bakersfield, California, United States | |
| 15 | 100.04 miles (161.00 km) N | New Coalinga Municipal Airport (CLG) | Coalinga, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,478.79 miles (18,473.27 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,451.16 miles (18,428.80 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 3 | 11,442.86 miles (18,415.45 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 4 | 11,434.78 miles (18,402.45 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 11,374.63 miles (18,305.65 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 6 | 11,317.19 miles (18,213.21 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,285.10 miles (18,161.56 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,252.70 miles (18,109.41 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,137.81 miles (17,924.52 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,132.92 miles (17,916.65 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,126.80 miles (17,906.81 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,114.14 miles (17,886.43 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,113.84 miles (17,885.94 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 11,084.42 miles (17,838.60 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 11,081.30 miles (17,833.57 km) SSE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |