Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Mmabatho, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(61°15'5"N by 149°48'23"W)
Arrival Airport:
(25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E)
Distance from EDF to MBD:
9,978.15 miles (16,058.24 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- EDF Airport Information
- MBD Airport Information
- Facts about EDF
- Facts about MBD
- Map of Nearest Airports to EDF
- List of Nearest Airports to EDF
- Map of Furthest Airports from EDF
- List of Furthest Airports from EDF
- Map of Nearest Airports to MBD
- List of Nearest Airports to MBD
- Map of Furthest Airports from MBD
- List of Furthest Airports from MBD
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Mafikeng Airport (MBD), Mmabatho, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,978 miles (or 16,058 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 Elmendorf Air Force Base and Mafikeng 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 Elmendorf Air Force Base and Mafikeng Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | EDF / PAED |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Anchorage, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 61°15'5"N by 149°48'23"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from EDF |
| More Information: | EDF Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MBD / FAMM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Mmabatho, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E |
| Area Served: | Mafikeng, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4181 feet (1,274 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MBD |
| More Information: | MBD Maps & Info |
Facts about Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF):
- The Elmendorf AFB is a site of one of the now decommissioned FLR-9 Wullenweber-class antennas, a node of the now obsolete High Frequency SIGINT direction finding system.
- The furthest airport from Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,542 miles (16,965 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
- The first Air Force unit to be assigned to Alaska, the 18th Pursuit Squadron, arrived in February 1941.
- In addition to being known as "Elmendorf Air Force Base", another name for EDF is "JB Elmendorf-Richardson".
- The closest airport to Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Merrill Field (MRI), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) SSW of EDF.
Facts about Mafikeng Airport (MBD):
- Because of Mafikeng Airport's high elevation of 4,181 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MBD. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MBD a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- In addition to being known as "Mafikeng Airport", another name for MBD is "Mmabatho Airport".
- The furthest airport from Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is nearly antipodal to Mafikeng Airport (meaning Mafikeng Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Kalaupapa Airport), and is located 12,081 miles (19,443 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- Mafikeng Airport (MBD) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Lobatse Airport (LOQ), which is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) NNE of MBD.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 2.90 miles (4.67 km) SSW | Merrill Field (MRI) | Anchorage, Alaska, United States |     |
| 2 | 5.10 miles (8.20 km) E | Bryant Army Airfield (FRN) | Fort Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 8.32 miles (13.39 km) SW | Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 19.67 miles (31.66 km) N | Big Lake Airport (BGQ) | Big Lake, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 23.84 miles (38.37 km) NNE | Wasilla Airport (WWA) | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 33.56 miles (54.01 km) NE | Palmer Municipal Airport (PAQ) | Palmer, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 35.67 miles (57.40 km) NNW | Willow Airport (WOW) | Willow, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 41.57 miles (66.91 km) W | Beluga Airport (BVU) | Beluga, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 45.99 miles (74.01 km) WSW | Tyonek Airport (TYE) | Tyonek, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 67.10 miles (107.99 km) NW | Skwentna Airport (SKW) | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 67.29 miles (108.30 km) SW | Kenai Municipal Airport (ENA) | Kenai, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 67.79 miles (109.09 km) SW | Soldotna Airport (SXQ) | Soldotna, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 74.47 miles (119.84 km) N | Talkeetna Airport (TKA) | Talkeetna, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 78.79 miles (126.80 km) S | Seward Airport (SWD) | Seward, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 101.75 miles (163.75 km) SE | Chenega Bay Airport (NCN) | Chenega, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,541.86 miles (16,965.44 km) S | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,522.61 miles (16,934.46 km) SSE | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,517.40 miles (16,926.08 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,484.34 miles (16,872.87 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,482.65 miles (16,870.14 km) SSE | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,383.23 miles (16,710.15 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,336.91 miles (16,635.60 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,268.85 miles (16,526.07 km) S | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 10,264.17 miles (16,518.54 km) S | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 10,259.58 miles (16,511.15 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,259.02 miles (16,510.25 km) S | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,253.10 miles (16,500.73 km) S | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,250.65 miles (16,496.78 km) S | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 14 | 10,237.04 miles (16,474.88 km) S | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 10,227.30 miles (16,459.21 km) S | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 43.45 miles (69.93 km) NNE | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 2 | 89.62 miles (144.23 km) NNE | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 3 | 98.86 miles (159.10 km) NNW | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 4 | 106.67 miles (171.67 km) ENE | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 5 | 148.34 miles (238.73 km) E | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 161.80 miles (260.39 km) E | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 164.61 miles (264.91 km) E | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 8 | 167.13 miles (268.97 km) E | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 9 | 169.37 miles (272.57 km) E | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 10 | 174.18 miles (280.31 km) SW | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 11 | 183.09 miles (294.65 km) ESE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 12 | 212.36 miles (341.75 km) SSW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 13 | 231.79 miles (373.03 km) SSE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 14 | 260.86 miles (419.81 km) SE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 268.46 miles (432.05 km) WNW | Hukuntsi Airport (HUK) | Hukuntsi, Botswana | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,081.43 miles (19,443.13 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,076.67 miles (19,435.46 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,075.25 miles (19,433.18 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,074.28 miles (19,431.63 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,073.76 miles (19,430.79 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,061.80 miles (19,411.53 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,060.85 miles (19,410.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,055.41 miles (19,401.25 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,050.73 miles (19,393.72 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,043.61 miles (19,382.26 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,035.62 miles (19,369.41 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 12,030.37 miles (19,360.96 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 12,028.29 miles (19,357.61 km) N | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |