Nonstop flight route between Fairford, England, United Kingdom and Tacoma, Washington, United States:
Departure Airport:
(51°40'55"N by 1°47'24"W)
Arrival Airport:
(47°16'5"N by 122°34'41"W)
Distance from FFD to TIW:
4,756.48 miles (7,654.80 km)
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- About this route
- FFD Airport Information
- TIW Airport Information
- Facts about FFD
- Facts about TIW
- 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 TIW
- List of Nearest Airports to TIW
- Map of Furthest Airports from TIW
- List of Furthest Airports from TIW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between RAF Fairford (FFD), Fairford, England, United Kingdom and Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW), Tacoma, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,756 miles (or 7,655 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 Tacoma Narrows 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 Tacoma Narrows 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: | TIW / KTIW |
| Airport Name: | Tacoma Narrows Airport |
| Location: | Tacoma, Washington, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°16'5"N by 122°34'41"W |
| Area Served: | Tacoma, Washington |
| Operator/Owner: | Pierce County Public Works & Utilities |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 294 feet (90 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from TIW |
| More Information: | TIW Maps & Info |
Facts about RAF Fairford (FFD):
- 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.
- The closest airport to RAF Fairford (FFD) is RAF Brize Norton (BZZ), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) ENE of FFD.
- On 14 January 2004, the 420th Air Base Group was established at RAF Fairford to improve the control of its geographically separated units that had been aligned beneath the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall.
- In 1950, as a result of the beginning of the Cold War, the airfield was transferred to the U.S.
- KC-135 and KC-10 tankers deployed to Fairford supported Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libya in 1986.
Facts about Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW):
- The closest airport to Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW) is McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) SSE of TIW.
- Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,797 miles (17,376 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Because of Tacoma Narrows Airport's relatively low elevation of 294 feet, planes can take off or land at Tacoma Narrows 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.
- This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.
| 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 | 10.19 miles (16.40 km) SSE | McChord Field/McChord AFB (TCM) | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| 2 | 13.05 miles (21.00 km) S | Gray Army Airfield (GRF) | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| 3 | 17.66 miles (28.43 km) NNW | Bremerton National Airport (PWT) | Bremerton, Washington, United States | |
| 4 | 17.72 miles (28.53 km) NE | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | SeaTac (near Seattle and Tacoma), Washington, United States | |
| 5 | 22.23 miles (35.78 km) NE | King County International Airport (BFI) | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| 6 | 23.00 miles (37.01 km) NE | Renton Municipal Airport (RNT) | Renton, Washington, United States | |
| 7 | 25.66 miles (41.29 km) SW | Olympia Regional Airport (OLM) | Olympia, Washington, United States | |
| 8 | 26.81 miles (43.15 km) W | Sanderson Field (SHN) | Shelton, Washington, United States | |
| 9 | 27.33 miles (43.98 km) NNE | Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base (LKE) | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| 10 | 36.77 miles (59.18 km) NNE | Kenmore Air (KEH) | Kenmore, Washington, United States | |
| 11 | 46.20 miles (74.35 km) NNE | Paine Field (PAE) | Everett, Washington, United States | |
| 12 | 55.36 miles (89.10 km) N | Jefferson County International AirportPort Townsend Army Airfield (TWD) | Port Townsend, Washington, United States | |
| 13 | 55.70 miles (89.63 km) S | South Lewis County Airport (TDO) | Toledo, Washington, United States | |
| 14 | 63.97 miles (102.94 km) NNW | Sequim Valley Airport (SQV) | Sequim, Washington, United States | |
| 15 | 65.30 miles (105.09 km) E | Easton State Airport (ESW) | Easton, Washington, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,797.13 miles (17,376.26 km) SSE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 10,728.84 miles (17,266.35 km) SSE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 10,640.61 miles (17,124.36 km) S | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 10,611.13 miles (17,076.91 km) S | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,610.12 miles (17,075.29 km) ESE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,606.94 miles (17,070.18 km) ESE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,589.02 miles (17,041.33 km) ESE | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,582.41 miles (17,030.70 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 9 | 10,578.15 miles (17,023.83 km) ESE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,574.00 miles (17,017.16 km) ESE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 11 | 10,570.97 miles (17,012.29 km) SE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 12 | 10,565.89 miles (17,004.10 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,561.82 miles (16,997.56 km) SSE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,551.49 miles (16,980.93 km) ESE | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 15 | 10,551.18 miles (16,980.43 km) ESE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |