Nonstop flight route between Great Falls, Montana, United States and Odessa, Ukraine:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA), Great Falls, Montana, United States and Odesa International Airport (ODS), Odessa, Ukraine would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,550 miles (or 8,932 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 Malmstrom Air Force Base and Odesa International 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 Malmstrom Air Force Base and Odesa International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA):

• Malmstrom Air Force Base traces its beginnings back to 1939 when World War II broke out in Europe.
• Malmstrom AFB is one of three US Air Force Bases that maintains and operates the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.
• Great Falls played a major aerial defense role in North American air defense mission.
• Originally named Great Falls Army Air Base, later Great Falls Air Force Base, the facility was renamed Malmstrom Air Force Base on 1 October 1955 in honor of Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom.
• The closest airport to Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA) is Great Falls International Airport (GTF), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) W of GFA.
• Following World War II, Great Falls Army Air Base played an important role in US defense during the Cold War era.
• In addition to being known as "Malmstrom Air Force Base", another name for GFA is "Malmstrom AFB".
• The furthest airport from Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,495 miles (16,891 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• On 18 December 1953, Great Falls AFB was transferred from Military Air Transport Service to Strategic Air Command, although MATS units remained at the base for several years.
• The 801st Radar Squadron was inactivated on 31 December 1969 due to budget reductions.

Facts about Odesa International Airport (ODS):

• The closest airport to Odesa International Airport (ODS) is International Airport Mykolaiv (Nikolaev Airport) (NLV), which is located 73 miles (118 kilometers) NE of ODS.
• Odesa International Airport (ODS) has 2 runways.
• In addition to being known as "Odesa International Airport", other names for ODS include "Міжнародний аеропорт «Одеса»" and "Международный аэропорт «Одесса»".
• In May 2007, the airport started construction work that includes extending the main runway.
• The furthest airport from Odesa International Airport (ODS) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,108 miles (17,877 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• The airport's runways either were or are co-used by the Ukrainian Air Force.
• Because of Odesa International Airport's relatively low elevation of 172 feet, planes can take off or land at Odesa International 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.