Nonstop flight route between East London, South Africa and Bakersfield, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from ELS to BFL:
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- About this route
- ELS Airport Information
- BFL Airport Information
- Facts about ELS
- Facts about BFL
- Map of Nearest Airports to ELS
- List of Nearest Airports to ELS
- Map of Furthest Airports from ELS
- List of Furthest Airports from ELS
- Map of Nearest Airports to BFL
- List of Nearest Airports to BFL
- Map of Furthest Airports from BFL
- List of Furthest Airports from BFL
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa and Meadows Field (BFL), Bakersfield, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,546 miles (or 16,973 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 East London Airport and Meadows Field, 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 East London Airport and Meadows Field. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | ELS / FAEL |
Airport Name: | East London Airport |
Location: | East London, South Africa |
GPS Coordinates: | 33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E |
Area Served: | East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 436 feet (133 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from ELS |
More Information: | ELS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | BFL / KBFL |
Airport Names: |
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Location: | Bakersfield, California, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 35°26'2"N by 119°3'28"W |
Area Served: | Greater Bakersfield metropolitan area |
Operator/Owner: | Kern County |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 510 feet (155 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from BFL |
More Information: | BFL Maps & Info |
Facts about East London Airport (ELS):
- The closest airport to East London Airport (ELS) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ELS.
- Because of East London Airport's relatively low elevation of 436 feet, planes can take off or land at East London 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 airport had an inauspicious beginning in 1927, when Lieut Colonel Alistair Miller asked the East London town council to help establish a municipal aerodrome at Woodbrook, west of the city.
- The furthest airport from East London Airport (ELS) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,569 miles (18,618 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
- The airport was renamed in 1994.
Facts about Meadows Field (BFL):
- The closest airport to Meadows Field (BFL) is Shafter Airport (MIT), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) WNW of BFL.
- In late 1943 the United States Army Air Forces acquired usage rights to Meadows Field.
- Initial response was favorable.
- Taxi stands are located outside the north entrance to the terminal, across the street.
- The furthest airport from Meadows Field (BFL) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,406 miles (18,356 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- The terminal was constructed in 1957, and originally served all domestic flights.
- The airport saw increased air service during the 1950s and 1960s.
- Because of Meadows Field's relatively low elevation of 510 feet, planes can take off or land at Meadows Field 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.
- Between May 1 and July 12, 1944, the 427th Night Fighter Squadron trained at Meadows Field.
- Meadows Field (BFL) has 2 runways.
- With the development of commercial air service Bakersfield needed a purpose-built commercial airport.
- In addition to being known as "Meadows Field", another name for BFL is "Kern County Airport No. 1".