Nonstop flight route between Edwards, California, United States and Phalaborwa, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(34°54'20"N by 117°53'0"W)
Arrival Airport:
(23°56'12"S by 31°9'18"E)
Distance from EDW to PHW:
10,435.62 miles (16,794.45 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- EDW Airport Information
- PHW Airport Information
- Facts about EDW
- Facts about PHW
- Map of Nearest Airports to EDW
- List of Nearest Airports to EDW
- Map of Furthest Airports from EDW
- List of Furthest Airports from EDW
- Map of Nearest Airports to PHW
- List of Nearest Airports to PHW
- Map of Furthest Airports from PHW
- List of Furthest Airports from PHW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Edwards Air Force Base (EDW), Edwards, California, United States and Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW), Phalaborwa, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,436 miles (or 16,794 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 Edwards Air Force Base and Hendrik Van Eck 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 Edwards Air Force Base and Hendrik Van Eck Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | EDW / KEDW |
| Airport Name: | Edwards Air Force Base |
| Location: | Edwards, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°54'20"N by 117°53'0"W |
| Operator/Owner: | United States Air Force |
| View all routes: | Routes from EDW |
| More Information: | EDW Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PHW / FAPH |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Phalaborwa, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 23°56'12"S by 31°9'18"E |
| Area Served: | Phalaborwa, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1432 feet (436 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PHW |
| More Information: | PHW Maps & Info |
Facts about Edwards Air Force Base (EDW):
- The furthest airport from Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,414 miles (18,369 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- Notable occurrences at Edwards include Chuck Yeager's flight that broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, test flights of the North American X-15, the first landings of the Space Shuttle, and the 1986 around-the-world flight of the Rutan Voyager.
- The closest airport to Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) is Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV), which is located only 19 miles (30 kilometers) NW of EDW.
- Four months later on 10 February 1948, Muroc AAF was re-designated Muroc Air Force Base with the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate military service.
- With the arrival of the Bell Aircraft P-59 Airacomet jet fighter, the Mojave Desert station was chosen as a secluded site for testing this super-secret airplane.
Facts about Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW):
- The furthest airport from Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,944 miles (19,222 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) is Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) SSW of PHW.
- In addition to being known as "Hendrik Van Eck Airport", another name for PHW is "Phalaborwa Airport".
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 18.53 miles (29.82 km) NW | Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV) | Mojave, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 22.14 miles (35.63 km) WSW | General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF) | Lancaster, California, United States | |
| 3 | 22.22 miles (35.77 km) SSW | Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) | Palmdale, California, United States | |
| 4 | 35.21 miles (56.66 km) WNW | Tehachapi Municipal Airport (TSP) | Tehachapi, California, United States | |
| 5 | 35.50 miles (57.14 km) SE | Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) | Victorville, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.70 miles (73.55 km) ESE | Apple Valley Airport (APV) | Apple Valley, California, United States | |
| 7 | 52.12 miles (83.88 km) N | Inyokern Airport (IYK) | Inyokern, California, United States | |
| 8 | 53.87 miles (86.70 km) SW | Whiteman Airport (WHP) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| 9 | 55.71 miles (89.65 km) SSW | Bob Hope Airport (BUR) | Burbank, California, United States | |
| 10 | 55.98 miles (90.09 km) SSE | Cable Airport (CCB) | Upland, California, United States | |
| 11 | 56.53 miles (90.98 km) S | Brackett Field (POC) | La Verne, California, United States | |
| 12 | 57.27 miles (92.16 km) S | San Gabriel Valley (El Monte) Airport (EMT) | El Monte, California, United States | |
| 13 | 59.18 miles (95.24 km) SW | Van Nuys Airport (VNY) | Van Nuys, California, United States | |
| 14 | 60.86 miles (97.94 km) SSE | LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) | Ontario (near Los Angeles), California, United States | |
| 15 | 62.28 miles (100.23 km) E | Barstow-Daggett Airport (DAG) | Daggett, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,414.23 miles (18,369.37 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,400.85 miles (18,347.84 km) SSE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,388.63 miles (18,328.18 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,387.41 miles (18,326.22 km) S | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,304.13 miles (18,192.19 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,181.54 miles (17,994.90 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,174.55 miles (17,983.65 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,135.89 miles (17,921.44 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,037.73 miles (17,763.47 km) SE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,011.33 miles (17,720.97 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,007.64 miles (17,715.04 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,995.36 miles (17,695.27 km) ESE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,991.28 miles (17,688.71 km) SE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,983.71 miles (17,676.52 km) ESE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,967.39 miles (17,650.26 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 29.63 miles (47.68 km) SSW | Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) | Hoedspruit, South Africa | |
| 2 | 65.65 miles (105.65 km) SSE | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 3 | 100.00 miles (160.94 km) S | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 4 | 107.35 miles (172.77 km) W | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 5 | 163.34 miles (262.87 km) SSE | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 6 | 179.36 miles (288.65 km) S | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 7 | 204.15 miles (328.54 km) N | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| 8 | 218.77 miles (352.08 km) WSW | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 9 | 236.04 miles (379.87 km) SW | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 10 | 237.30 miles (381.89 km) SW | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 11 | 245.04 miles (394.36 km) SW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 12 | 246.38 miles (396.51 km) SW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 247.78 miles (398.76 km) SW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 14 | 268.03 miles (431.35 km) WSW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 15 | 268.70 miles (432.43 km) E | Inhambane Airport (INH) | Inhambane, Mozambique | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,943.80 miles (19,221.63 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,930.01 miles (19,199.44 km) ENE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,922.09 miles (19,186.69 km) ENE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,921.16 miles (19,185.21 km) ENE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,913.28 miles (19,172.52 km) ENE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,908.90 miles (19,165.47 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,896.48 miles (19,145.47 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,891.63 miles (19,137.67 km) ENE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,885.19 miles (19,127.31 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,876.35 miles (19,113.09 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,875.07 miles (19,111.02 km) ENE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,830.44 miles (19,039.20 km) ENE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,830.44 miles (19,039.20 km) ENE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,826.92 miles (19,033.54 km) ENE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,821.19 miles (19,024.31 km) ENE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |