Nonstop flight route between Columbia, Missouri, United States and Fairford, England, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(38°49'5"N by 92°13'10"W)
Arrival Airport:
(51°40'55"N by 1°47'24"W)
Distance from COU to FFD:
4,199.36 miles (6,758.20 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- COU Airport Information
- FFD Airport Information
- Facts about COU
- Facts about FFD
- Map of Nearest Airports to COU
- List of Nearest Airports to COU
- Map of Furthest Airports from COU
- List of Furthest Airports from COU
- Map of Nearest Airports to FFD
- List of Nearest Airports to FFD
- Map of Furthest Airports from FFD
- List of Furthest Airports from FFD
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Columbia Regional Airport (COU), Columbia, Missouri, United States and RAF Fairford (FFD), Fairford, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,199 miles (or 6,758 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 Columbia Regional Airport and RAF Fairford, 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 Columbia Regional Airport and RAF Fairford. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | COU / KCOU |
| Airport Name: | Columbia Regional Airport |
| Location: | Columbia, Missouri, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 38°49'5"N by 92°13'10"W |
| Area Served: | Columbia, Missouri |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Columbia |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 889 feet (271 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from COU |
| More Information: | COU Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | FFD / EGVA |
| Airport Name: | RAF Fairford |
| Location: | Fairford, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°40'55"N by 1°47'24"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Defence |
| View all routes: | Routes from FFD |
| More Information: | FFD Maps & Info |
Facts about Columbia Regional Airport (COU):
- The closest airport to Columbia Regional Airport (COU) is Jefferson City Memorial Airport (JEF), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) SSE of COU.
- Because of Columbia Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 889 feet, planes can take off or land at Columbia Regional 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 Columbia Regional Airport (COU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,886 miles (17,519 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.
- Columbia Regional Airport (COU) has 2 runways.
- There are two flights leaving from Columbia Regional to Dallas/Fort Worth International, operated by American Eagle.
Facts about RAF Fairford (FFD):
- KC-135 and KC-10 tankers deployed to Fairford supported Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libya in 1986.
- The runway was completed in 1953, and served as a forward airbase for the first Convair B-36 Peacemaker aircraft from Carswell Air Force Base, Texas.
- On 12 May 2005, USAFE activated the 501st Combat Support Wing, with headquarters at RAF Alconbury, to provide support to its GSUs in the United Kingdom.
- The furthest airport from RAF Fairford (FFD) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,898 miles (19,148 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
- The closest airport to RAF Fairford (FFD) is RAF Brize Norton (BZZ), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) ENE of FFD.
- Due to RAF Fairford's location and infrastructure, the airfield is designated as a forward operating location for the US Air Force.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 16.05 miles (25.83 km) SSE | Jefferson City Memorial Airport (JEF) | Jefferson City, Missouri, United States |     |
| 2 | 52.07 miles (83.80 km) W | Sedalia Regional Airport (DMO) | Sedalia, Missouri, United States | |
| 3 | 52.98 miles (85.27 km) SSW | Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport (AIZ) | Lake Ozark, Missouri, United States | |
| 4 | 53.57 miles (86.21 km) SSE | Rolla National Airport (VIH) | Rolla, Missouri, United States | |
| 5 | 56.19 miles (90.43 km) WNW | Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport (MHL) | Marshall, Missouri, United States | |
| 6 | 71.81 miles (115.57 km) W | Whiteman Air Force Base (SZL) | Knob Noster, Missouri, United States | |
| 7 | 74.49 miles (119.89 km) S | Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (TBN) | Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, United States | |
| 8 | 85.17 miles (137.07 km) E | Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) | Chesterfield, Missouri, United States | |
| 9 | 89.80 miles (144.53 km) N | Kirksville Regional Airport (IRK) | Kirksville, Missouri, United States | |
| 10 | 95.05 miles (152.97 km) NE | Quincy Regional Airport (UIN) | Quincy, Illinois, United States | |
| 11 | 100.21 miles (161.27 km) E | Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| 12 | 112.58 miles (181.19 km) E | St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS) | Cahokia, Illinois (near St. Louis), United States | |
| 13 | 113.99 miles (183.45 km) NW | Trenton Municipal Airport (TRX) | Trenton, Missouri, United States | |
| 14 | 117.06 miles (188.38 km) E | St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN) | Alton, Illinois, United States | |
| 15 | 121.00 miles (194.73 km) NNE | Keokuk Municipal Airport (EOK) | Keokuk, Iowa, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,886.09 miles (17,519.42 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,864.03 miles (17,483.92 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,841.42 miles (17,447.53 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,838.13 miles (17,442.24 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,811.54 miles (17,399.45 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,795.94 miles (17,374.34 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,786.87 miles (17,359.73 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,784.83 miles (17,356.46 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,763.47 miles (17,322.08 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,751.22 miles (17,302.36 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,743.19 miles (17,289.45 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,733.23 miles (17,273.41 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,697.68 miles (17,216.20 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,697.12 miles (17,215.31 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,695.54 miles (17,212.76 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.00 miles (16.09 km) ENE | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) | Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 15.02 miles (24.17 km) SW | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 22.77 miles (36.64 km) ENE | Oxford Airport (OXF) | Oxford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 30.10 miles (48.45 km) E | RAF Benson (BEX) | Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 36.28 miles (58.38 km) WSW | Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) | Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 42.33 miles (68.12 km) E | RAF High Wycombe (HYC) | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 44.98 miles (72.38 km) WSW | Bristol Airport (BRS) | Bristol, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 47.23 miles (76.02 km) SE | Lasham Airfield (QLA) | Lasham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 47.50 miles (76.44 km) ESE | Blackbushe Airport (BBS) | Yateley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 47.84 miles (76.99 km) SE | RAF Odiham (ODH) | Odiham, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 49.48 miles (79.64 km) NNE | Coventry Airport (CVT) | Coventry, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 50.42 miles (81.15 km) ENE | Milton Keynes Airport (KYN) | Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 51.85 miles (83.45 km) ESE | Farnborough Airport (FAB) | Farnborough, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 53.35 miles (85.85 km) N | Birmingham Airport (BHX) | Birmingham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 53.92 miles (86.78 km) SSE | Southampton Airport (SOU) | Eastleigh (near Southampton), England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,897.99 miles (19,147.91 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,874.86 miles (19,110.69 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,869.65 miles (19,102.31 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,860.18 miles (19,087.07 km) SE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,839.51 miles (19,053.79 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,834.41 miles (19,045.60 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,833.87 miles (19,044.72 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,822.95 miles (19,027.15 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,812.41 miles (19,010.18 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,804.61 miles (18,997.63 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,803.98 miles (18,996.62 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,782.42 miles (18,961.92 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,774.40 miles (18,949.02 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,761.76 miles (18,928.67 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,760.44 miles (18,926.54 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |