Nonstop flight route between Charlottesville, Virginia, United States and St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO), Charlottesville, Virginia, United States and MoD St Athan (DGX), St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,624 miles (or 5,832 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 Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport and MoD St Athan, 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 Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport and MoD St Athan. 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 Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO):

• Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport covers an area of 610 acres at an elevation of 639 feet above mean sea level.
• Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,627 miles (18,711 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• The closest airport to Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) is Orange County Airport (OMH), which is located 23 miles (38 kilometers) ENE of CHO.
• As of January 31, 2014, Allegiant airlines announced that they would be ending service between Charlottesville and Orlando-Sanford on February 23, 2014.
• Because of Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport's relatively low elevation of 639 feet, planes can take off or land at Charlottesville–Albemarle 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.

Facts about MoD St Athan (DGX):

• RAF St Athan has been used to house a number of army units throughout its life and, in 2003, the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards moved from Aldershot to St Athan - the first time they have been based in Wales since they were formed in 1915.
• Because of MoD St Athan's relatively low elevation of 163 feet, planes can take off or land at MoD St Athan 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 training to be carried out at St Athan was to be specialist phase 2 and phase 3 engineering courses of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
• In 2006, the Special Forces Support Group was raised at St Athan and the Welsh Guards returned to London.
• The new academy was claimed to create up to 5000 jobs at St Athan with a £14 billion investment over 25 years with an estimated £57.4 million spent into the local economy.
• The furthest airport from MoD St Athan (DGX) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,960 miles (19,248 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
• The only squadrons to operate out of St Athan on a regular basis are the University of Wales Air Squadron, flying Grob Tutors and No 634 Volunteer Gliding Squadron using Vigilant T.1s.
• On 26 August 1993 an ATC civilian instructor was seriously injured and the RAF Volunteer Reserve pilot, Group Captain Roger Sweatman, was killed when their Chipmunk trainer, on an air experience flight, crashed after encountering difficulties during a simulated emergency low-height manoeuvre on take-off.
• The station officially opened as RAF St Athan on 1 September 1938 and the first unit to take up residence was No 4 School of Technical Training.
• The closest airport to MoD St Athan (DGX) is Cardiff Airport (CWL), which is located only 4 miles (6 kilometers) E of DGX.
• MoD St Athan (DGX) currently has only 1 runway.