Nonstop flight route between Fairford, England, United Kingdom and Pierre, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(51°40'55"N by 1°47'24"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°22'58"N by 100°17'9"W)
Distance from FFD to PIR:
4,221.48 miles (6,793.80 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- FFD Airport Information
- PIR Airport Information
- Facts about FFD
- Facts about PIR
- Map of Nearest Airports to FFD
- List of Nearest Airports to FFD
- Map of Furthest Airports from FFD
- List of Furthest Airports from FFD
- Map of Nearest Airports to PIR
- List of Nearest Airports to PIR
- Map of Furthest Airports from PIR
- List of Furthest Airports from PIR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between RAF Fairford (FFD), Fairford, England, United Kingdom and Pierre Regional Airport (PIR), Pierre, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,221 miles (or 6,794 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 RAF Fairford and Pierre Regional 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 RAF Fairford and Pierre Regional Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | FFD / EGVA |
| Airport Name: | RAF Fairford |
| Location: | Fairford, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°40'55"N by 1°47'24"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Defence |
| View all routes: | Routes from FFD |
| More Information: | FFD Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PIR / KPIR |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Pierre, South Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 44°22'58"N by 100°17'9"W |
| Area Served: | Pierre, South Dakota |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Pierre |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1744 feet (532 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PIR |
| More Information: | PIR Maps & Info |
Facts about RAF Fairford (FFD):
- Royal Air Force Fairford or more simply RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England which is currently a standby airfield and therefore not in everyday use.
- RAF Fairford is also the home of the Royal International Air Tattoo, an annual air display.
- KC-135 and KC-10 tankers deployed to Fairford supported Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libya in 1986.
- RAF Lyneham's position as the primary tactical transport base for the RAF was emphasised in February 1971 when Nos.
- The furthest airport from RAF Fairford (FFD) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,898 miles (19,148 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
- RAF Fairford was the only TransOceanic Abort Landing site for NASA's Space Shuttle in the UK.
- The closest airport to RAF Fairford (FFD) is RAF Brize Norton (BZZ), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) ENE of FFD.
- RAF Fairford was constructed in 1944 to serve as an airfield for British and American troop carriers and gliders for the D-Day invasion of Normandy during World War II.
Facts about Pierre Regional Airport (PIR):
- Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) has 2 runways.
- Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 15,983 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 13,692 in 2009 and 14,686 in 2010.
- In addition to being known as "Pierre Regional Airport", another name for PIR is "Pierre Army Airfield".
- The closest airport to Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) is Mobridge Municipal Airport (MBG), which is located 81 miles (130 kilometers) N of PIR.
- Pierre Regional Airport covers 1,735 acres at an elevation of 1,744 feet above mean sea level.
- The furthest airport from Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,493 miles (16,887 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- A new terminal has been designed, and construction began in late Spring, 2011.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.00 miles (16.09 km) ENE | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) | Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom |     |
| 2 | 15.02 miles (24.17 km) SW | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 22.77 miles (36.64 km) ENE | Oxford Airport (OXF) | Oxford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 30.10 miles (48.45 km) E | RAF Benson (BEX) | Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 36.28 miles (58.38 km) WSW | Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) | Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 42.33 miles (68.12 km) E | RAF High Wycombe (HYC) | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 44.98 miles (72.38 km) WSW | Bristol Airport (BRS) | Bristol, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 47.23 miles (76.02 km) SE | Lasham Airfield (QLA) | Lasham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 47.50 miles (76.44 km) ESE | Blackbushe Airport (BBS) | Yateley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 47.84 miles (76.99 km) SE | RAF Odiham (ODH) | Odiham, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 49.48 miles (79.64 km) NNE | Coventry Airport (CVT) | Coventry, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 50.42 miles (81.15 km) ENE | Milton Keynes Airport (KYN) | Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 51.85 miles (83.45 km) ESE | Farnborough Airport (FAB) | Farnborough, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 53.35 miles (85.85 km) N | Birmingham Airport (BHX) | Birmingham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 53.92 miles (86.78 km) SSE | Southampton Airport (SOU) | Eastleigh (near Southampton), England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,897.99 miles (19,147.91 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,874.86 miles (19,110.69 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,869.65 miles (19,102.31 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,860.18 miles (19,087.07 km) SE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,839.51 miles (19,053.79 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,834.41 miles (19,045.60 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,833.87 miles (19,044.72 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,822.95 miles (19,027.15 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,812.41 miles (19,010.18 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,804.61 miles (18,997.63 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,803.98 miles (18,996.62 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,782.42 miles (18,961.92 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,774.40 miles (18,949.02 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,761.76 miles (18,928.67 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,760.44 miles (18,926.54 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 80.61 miles (129.73 km) N | Mobridge Municipal Airport (MBG) | Mobridge, South Dakota, United States | |
| 2 | 101.59 miles (163.50 km) E | Huron Regional Airport (HON) | Huron, South Dakota, United States | |
| 3 | 106.26 miles (171.01 km) S | Miller Field (VTN) | Valentine, Nebraska, United States | |
| 4 | 117.18 miles (188.58 km) NE | Aberdeen Regional AirportAberdeen Army Airfield (ABR) | Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States | |
| 5 | 119.20 miles (191.83 km) ESE | Mitchell Municipal Airport (MHE) | Mitchell, South Dakota, United States | |
| 6 | 122.23 miles (196.70 km) NNE | Ashley Municipal Airport (ASY) | Ashley, North Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 125.48 miles (201.94 km) S | Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) | Ainsworth, Nebraska, United States | |
| 8 | 138.94 miles (223.59 km) W | Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA) | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States | |
| 9 | 139.19 miles (224.01 km) W | Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States | |
| 10 | 145.54 miles (234.23 km) SW | Pine Ridge Airport (XPR) | Pine Ridge, South Dakota, United States | |
| 11 | 154.63 miles (248.86 km) SSE | O'Neill Municipal Airport (ONL) | O'Neill, Nebraska, United States | |
| 12 | 158.23 miles (254.64 km) ENE | Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) | Watertown, South Dakota, United States | |
| 13 | 158.67 miles (255.35 km) NE | Britton Municipal Airport (TTO) | Britton, South Dakota, United States | |
| 14 | 160.53 miles (258.35 km) E | Madison Municipal Airport (XMD) | Madison, South Dakota, United States | |
| 15 | 166.62 miles (268.15 km) N | Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS) | Bismarck, North Dakota, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,492.88 miles (16,886.61 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,426.91 miles (16,780.44 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,403.42 miles (16,742.63 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,388.07 miles (16,717.94 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,378.56 miles (16,702.63 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,355.72 miles (16,665.88 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 10,333.12 miles (16,629.50 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,329.76 miles (16,624.10 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,325.79 miles (16,617.70 km) SE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 10 | 10,320.12 miles (16,608.59 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,309.86 miles (16,592.06 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,304.74 miles (16,583.83 km) SE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 13 | 10,293.59 miles (16,565.89 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,287.90 miles (16,556.72 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,240.43 miles (16,480.34 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |