Nonstop flight route between Francistown, Botswana and Rochester, Kent, England, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(21°9'33"S by 27°28'27"E)
Arrival Airport:
(51°21'6"N by 0°30'10"E)
Distance from FRW to RCS:
5,270.48 miles (8,482.00 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- FRW Airport Information
- RCS Airport Information
- Facts about FRW
- Facts about RCS
- 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 RCS
- List of Nearest Airports to RCS
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCS
- List of Furthest Airports from RCS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW), Francistown, Botswana and Rochester Airport (RCS), Rochester, Kent, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,270 miles (or 8,482 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 Rochester 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 Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base and Rochester Airport. 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: | RCS / EGTO |
| Airport Name: | Rochester Airport |
| Location: | Rochester, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°21'6"N by 0°30'10"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Rochester Airport Ltd. |
| Airport Type: | Private |
| Elevation: | 426 feet (130 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCS |
| More Information: | RCS Maps & Info |
Facts about Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW):
- In addition to being known as "Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base", another name for FRW is "FBFT [1]".
- Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) has 2 runways.
- 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.
- Francistown is home to Botswana Defence Force Air Wing's Z3 Transport Squadron and Z12 Transport Squadron.
- 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.
- 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.
- Two new runways are being added as well as the renovations of the current ones.
- 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.
Facts about Rochester Airport (RCS):
- Because of Rochester Airport's relatively low elevation of 426 feet, planes can take off or land at Rochester 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.
- Passenger flights to and from the continent expanded in the 1950s and 60's using Douglas DC-3s and de Havilland Doves operated by Channel Airways but with stringent requirement of the Civil Aviation Authority, operators had to re-locate from Rochester.
- In 1999 a group of aviators and local businessmen at Rochester formed a company dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the long tradition of aviation at Rochester Airport, its service to the local community and for its longer term preservation.
- In 1934-5 Short Brothers took over the Rochester Airport site when they moved some of their personnel from the existing seaplane works.
- The furthest airport from Rochester Airport (RCS) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,897 miles (19,146 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- Rochester Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee.
- The closest airport to Rochester Airport (RCS) is London Southend Airport (SEN), which is located only 17 miles (28 kilometers) NNE of RCS.
- Rochester Airport (RCS) has 3 runways.
| 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 | 17.17 miles (27.64 km) NNE | London Southend Airport (SEN) | Southend, Essex (near London) United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 20.35 miles (32.75 km) W | London Biggin Hill Airport (BQH) | Biggin Hill / London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 22.00 miles (35.40 km) WNW | London City Airport (LCY) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 28.99 miles (46.66 km) SE | Lympne Airport (LYM) | Lympne, Kent, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 29.32 miles (47.19 km) WSW | Redhill Aerodrome (KRH) | Redhill, Surrey, England, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 33.12 miles (53.30 km) WSW | Gatwick Airport (LGW) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 33.25 miles (53.51 km) SE | Lydd International Airport (LYX) | Lydd, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 36.40 miles (58.58 km) E | Manston Airport (MSE) | Manston, Kent, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 38.58 miles (62.09 km) NNW | London Stansted Airport (STN) | Essex (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 42.02 miles (67.63 km) WNW | RAF Northolt (NHT) | Ruislip, England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 42.44 miles (68.31 km) WNW | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 42.97 miles (69.16 km) N | MDPGA Wethersfield (WXF) | Braintree, England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 43.19 miles (69.51 km) NW | Hatfield Aerodrome (HTF) | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 49.78 miles (80.11 km) SW | Shoreham Airport (ESH) | Lancing, West Sussex, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 51.98 miles (83.65 km) NW | London Luton Airport (LTN) | Luton (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,896.91 miles (19,146.17 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,836.27 miles (19,048.59 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,818.89 miles (19,020.62 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,798.42 miles (18,987.66 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,787.87 miles (18,970.69 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,787.44 miles (18,970.00 km) ESE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,782.60 miles (18,962.21 km) SE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,778.89 miles (18,956.24 km) SE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,773.33 miles (18,947.28 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,745.16 miles (18,901.95 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,741.82 miles (18,896.59 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,739.96 miles (18,893.58 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,732.44 miles (18,881.48 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,725.19 miles (18,869.81 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,705.11 miles (18,837.50 km) SE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |