Nonstop flight route between St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom and Goodyear, Arizona, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between MoD St Athan (DGX), St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom and Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR), Goodyear, Arizona, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,171 miles (or 8,321 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 MoD St Athan and Phoenix Goodyear 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 MoD St Athan and Phoenix Goodyear Airport. 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 MoD St Athan (DGX):

• 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.
• During the 1960s, a driving school was established.
• RAF St Athan was also home for the Royal Air Force Administrative Apprentice Training School.
• The closest airport to MoD St Athan (DGX) is Cardiff Airport (CWL), which is located only 4 miles (6 kilometers) E of DGX.
• 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.
• MoD St Athan (DGX) currently has only 1 runway.
• In 2006, the Special Forces Support Group was raised at St Athan and the Welsh Guards returned to London.
• 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.

Facts about Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR):

• Phoenix Goodyear Airport covers 789 acres.
• Because of Phoenix Goodyear Airport's relatively low elevation of 968 feet, planes can take off or land at Phoenix Goodyear 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.
• Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,456 miles (18,437 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• The closest airport to Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR) is Luke Air Force BaseLuke Field (LUF), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) N of GYR.
• It was built during World War II as a naval air facility, NAF Litchfield Park, then upgraded to naval air station status and renamed NAS Litchfield Park.
• Both flight training schools, while regulated by the FAA and operating under their regulations, train students to JAA requirements as required for Europe.