Nonstop flight route between Francistown, Botswana and St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(21°9'33"S by 27°28'27"E)
Arrival Airport:
(51°24'16"N by 3°26'8"W)
Distance from FRW to DGX:
5,352.41 miles (8,613.85 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- FRW Airport Information
- DGX Airport Information
- Facts about FRW
- Facts about DGX
- Map of Nearest Airports to FRW
- List of Nearest Airports to FRW
- Map of Furthest Airports from FRW
- List of Furthest Airports from FRW
- Map of Nearest Airports to DGX
- List of Nearest Airports to DGX
- Map of Furthest Airports from DGX
- List of Furthest Airports from DGX
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW), Francistown, Botswana and MoD St Athan (DGX), St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,352 miles (or 8,614 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 Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base and MoD St Athan, 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 Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base and MoD St Athan. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | FRW / FBFT |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Francistown, Botswana |
| GPS Coordinates: | 21°9'33"S by 27°28'27"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Botswana Defence Force/Botswana CAA |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military |
| Elevation: | 3283 feet (1,001 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FRW |
| More Information: | FRW Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DGX / EGDX |
| Airport Name: | MoD St Athan |
| Location: | St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°24'16"N by 3°26'8"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Defence |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 163 feet (50 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DGX |
| More Information: | DGX Maps & Info |
Facts about Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW):
- Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) has 2 runways.
- In addition to being known as "Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base", another name for FRW is "FBFT [1]".
- The furthest airport from Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is nearly antipodal to Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (meaning Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Hilo International Airport), and is located 12,246 miles (19,707 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- Phase One of the construction cost P224 million, while Phase three cost P160 million.
- In 2011 the airport's ownership of the old terminal was transferred to the Botswana Defence Force and became a military airport, with civilian traffic moved to the new Francistown International Airport terminal to the west of the airport lands.
- However, currently the project is expected to miss its May deadline, after the airport in Gaborone also missed its deadline set date for May 10, 2010, with contractors at both sites struggling to finalise each stage of construction in time.
- Francistown Airport is a public airport in Francistown, Botswana.
- The closest airport to Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) is Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ), which is located 108 miles (174 kilometers) NE of FRW.
Facts about MoD St Athan (DGX):
- Because of MoD St Athan's relatively low elevation of 163 feet, planes can take off or land at MoD St Athan 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 only squadrons to operate out of St Athan on a regular basis are the University of Wales Air Squadron, flying Grob Tutors and No 634 Volunteer Gliding Squadron using Vigilant T.1s.
- Just before 1100 GMT on 11 February 2009, two Grob Tutor aircraft flying out of St Athan were involved in a mid-air collision in which two Air Training Corps cadets and their instructors, both RAF pilots, died.
- The closest airport to MoD St Athan (DGX) is Cardiff Airport (CWL), which is located only 4 miles (6 kilometers) E of DGX.
- RAF St Athan has been used to house a number of army units throughout its life and, in 2003, the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards moved from Aldershot to St Athan - the first time they have been based in Wales since they were formed in 1915.
- The furthest airport from MoD St Athan (DGX) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,960 miles (19,248 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
- MoD St Athan (DGX) currently has only 1 runway.
- The last aircraft to be serviced at St Athan, a Vickers VC10, departed the site on 23 February 2012.
- During the 1960s, a driving school was established.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 108.15 miles (174.04 km) NE | Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |     |
| 2 | 177.23 miles (285.23 km) N | Hwange National Park Airport (HWN) | Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe | |
| 3 | 195.21 miles (314.16 km) NE | Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE) | Gweru, Zimbabwe | |
| 4 | 224.67 miles (361.56 km) SE | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 5 | 231.79 miles (373.02 km) ENE | Masvingo Airport (MVZ) | Masvingo, Zimbabwe | |
| 6 | 236.92 miles (381.28 km) NNW | Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | |
| 7 | 254.47 miles (409.52 km) NNW | Livingstone Airport (LVI) | Livingstone, Zambia | |
| 8 | 254.68 miles (409.87 km) SSW | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 9 | 264.79 miles (426.13 km) E | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| 10 | 274.11 miles (441.13 km) WNW | Maun Airport (MUB) | Maun, Botswana | |
| 11 | 274.92 miles (442.45 km) NNW | Kasane Airport (BBK) | Kasane, Botswana | |
| 12 | 289.04 miles (465.16 km) S | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 296.07 miles (476.48 km) SW | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 14 | 300.56 miles (483.71 km) SSW | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 15 | 303.25 miles (488.04 km) SE | Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) | Phalaborwa, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,245.59 miles (19,707.31 km) ENE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,218.36 miles (19,663.49 km) ENE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,212.63 miles (19,654.27 km) ENE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,211.04 miles (19,651.72 km) ENE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,210.32 miles (19,650.56 km) E | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,188.69 miles (19,615.75 km) ENE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,184.32 miles (19,608.72 km) E | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,169.04 miles (19,584.12 km) E | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,150.23 miles (19,553.84 km) E | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,150.10 miles (19,553.65 km) E | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,142.28 miles (19,541.06 km) E | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,089.08 miles (19,455.43 km) E | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,089.08 miles (19,455.43 km) E | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 12,081.19 miles (19,442.75 km) E | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 12,079.58 miles (19,440.14 km) E | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 4.03 miles (6.48 km) E | Cardiff Airport (CWL) | Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 30.51 miles (49.10 km) WNW | Swansea Airport (SWS) | Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 30.93 miles (49.78 km) E | Bristol Airport (BRS) | Bristol, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 37.11 miles (59.72 km) ENE | Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) | Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 46.32 miles (74.55 km) S | Exeter International Airport (EXT) | Exeter, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 62.49 miles (100.57 km) E | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 71.81 miles (115.57 km) WNW | Haverfordwest Aerodrome (HAW) | Haverfordwest, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 73.27 miles (117.92 km) ENE | RAF Fairford (FFD) | Fairford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 73.86 miles (118.86 km) SSW | Plymouth City Airport (PLH) | Plymouth, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 81.51 miles (131.17 km) ESE | Bournemouth Airport (BOH) | Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 83.03 miles (133.62 km) ENE | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) | Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 95.12 miles (153.08 km) SW | Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) | Newquay, England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 95.37 miles (153.49 km) ESE | Southampton Airport (SOU) | Eastleigh (near Southampton), England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 95.55 miles (153.77 km) ENE | Oxford Airport (OXF) | Oxford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 101.68 miles (163.63 km) E | RAF Benson (BEX) | Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,960.14 miles (19,247.92 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,944.25 miles (19,222.36 km) SE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,928.05 miles (19,196.29 km) SE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,925.82 miles (19,192.70 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,896.69 miles (19,145.83 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,887.56 miles (19,131.13 km) SSE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,873.31 miles (19,108.18 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,867.95 miles (19,099.57 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,865.25 miles (19,095.23 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,858.59 miles (19,084.51 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,838.92 miles (19,052.84 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,830.51 miles (19,039.32 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,824.73 miles (19,030.01 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,820.15 miles (19,022.64 km) SW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,809.12 miles (19,004.89 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |