Nonstop flight route between St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom and Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between MoD St Athan (DGX), St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT), Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,549 miles (or 5,711 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah), 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah). 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):

• In March 2003 it was confirmed that a new hi-tech maintenance centre would be built, creating 3,300 jobs.
• The last aircraft to be serviced at St Athan, a Vickers VC10, departed the site on 23 February 2012.
• 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.
• The closest airport to MoD St Athan (DGX) is Cardiff Airport (CWL), which is located only 4 miles (6 kilometers) E of DGX.
• The MOD later decided that DARA's 'Fast Jets' and 'Engines' businesses would close by April 2007, although the 'Large Aircraft' business would continue and, on 14 April 2005, the Project Red Dragon super-hangar opened and DARA moved its VC10 operations from its existing 'Twin Peaks' hangar into the new facility.
• 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.
• 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.
• RAF St Athan was also home for the Royal Air Force Administrative Apprentice Training School.

Facts about Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT):

• In addition to being known as "Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah)", another name for RKT is "مطار رأس الخيمة الدولي".
• Because of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah)'s relatively low elevation of 94 feet, planes can take off or land at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) is Dibba Airport (BYB), which is located only 19 miles (31 kilometers) E of RKT.
• The furthest airport from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) is Totegegie Airport (GMR), which is located 11,734 miles (18,883 kilometers) away in Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.
• RAK Airways started operating in 2007 but suspended regular operations in 2008 due to the economic crisis.
• Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is located in the Persian Gulf sheikhdom of Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates 11 nautical miles south of the town of the same name.
• Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) currently has only 1 runway.