Nonstop flight route between Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States and Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(47°56'57"N by 97°10'33"W)
Arrival Airport:
(51°36'59"N by 1°5'44"W)
Distance from GFK to BEX:
3,969.52 miles (6,388.31 km)
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- About this route
- GFK Airport Information
- BEX Airport Information
- Facts about GFK
- Facts about BEX
- Map of Nearest Airports to GFK
- List of Nearest Airports to GFK
- Map of Furthest Airports from GFK
- List of Furthest Airports from GFK
- Map of Nearest Airports to BEX
- List of Nearest Airports to BEX
- Map of Furthest Airports from BEX
- List of Furthest Airports from BEX
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States and RAF Benson (BEX), Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,970 miles (or 6,388 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 Grand Forks International Airport and RAF Benson, 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 Grand Forks International Airport and RAF Benson. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GFK / KGFK |
| Airport Name: | Grand Forks International Airport |
| Location: | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°56'57"N by 97°10'33"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 845 feet (258 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 4 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GFK |
| More Information: | GFK Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BEX / EGUB |
| Airport Name: | RAF Benson |
| Location: | Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°36'59"N by 1°5'44"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Defence |
| View all routes: | Routes from BEX |
| More Information: | BEX Maps & Info |
Facts about Grand Forks International Airport (GFK):
- The closest airport to Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) is Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR), which is located only 10 miles (17 kilometers) W of GFK.
- Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) has 4 runways.
- Because of Grand Forks International Airport's relatively low elevation of 845 feet, planes can take off or land at Grand Forks 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.
- On October 3, 2012, United Airlines started flights between Denver, CO and Grand Forks, but on September 10, 2013 they announced they would end service on December 3, 2013 citing low loads.
- The furthest airport from Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,514 miles (16,921 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In the mid-2000s, discussion began of upgrading or totally replacing the terminal as it has structural and safety problems and leaves little to no room for expansion.
Facts about RAF Benson (BEX):
- The closest airport to RAF Benson (BEX) is RAF High Wycombe (HYC), which is located only 13 miles (22 kilometers) ENE of BEX.
- Its Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito aircraft flew missions over occupied Europe, for example bringing back battle damage assessment pictures after Operation Chastise.
- The furthest airport from RAF Benson (BEX) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,879 miles (19,118 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
- The airfield is a well-known frost hollow, often recording the coldest temperatures in the UK.
- The Battles were replaced in December 1940 with Vickers Wellington medium bombers.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.44 miles (16.81 km) W | Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR) | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |     |
| 2 | 26.75 miles (43.06 km) ESE | Crookston Municipal Airport (CKN) | Crookston, Minnesota, United States | |
| 3 | 46.51 miles (74.86 km) E | Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF) | Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States | |
| 4 | 68.70 miles (110.56 km) N | Pembina Municipal Airport (PMB) | Pembina, North Dakota, United States | |
| 5 | 73.04 miles (117.54 km) SSE | Hector International Airport (FAR) | Fargo, North Dakota, United States | |
| 6 | 80.84 miles (130.11 km) W | Devils Lake Regional Airport (DVL) | Devils Lake, North Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 98.38 miles (158.33 km) SE | Detroit Lakes Airport (DTL) | Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, United States | |
| 8 | 99.44 miles (160.04 km) SW | Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS) | Jamestown, North Dakota, United States | |
| 9 | 108.24 miles (174.20 km) NE | Warroad International Memorial Airport (RRT) | Warroad, Minnesota, United States | |
| 10 | 108.48 miles (174.57 km) ESE | Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI) | Bemidji, Minnesota, United States | |
| 11 | 120.80 miles (194.41 km) SSE | Harry Stern Airport (WAH) | Wahpeton, North Dakota, United States | |
| 12 | 124.61 miles (200.53 km) SSE | Fergus Falls Municipal Airport (FFM) | Fergus Falls, Minnesota, United States | |
| 13 | 129.47 miles (208.36 km) ENE | Baudette International Airport (BDE) | Baudette, Minnesota, United States | |
| 14 | 135.51 miles (218.08 km) N | Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG) | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| 15 | 143.90 miles (231.59 km) NNW | Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport (YPG) | Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,514.00 miles (16,920.60 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,490.01 miles (16,881.99 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,482.83 miles (16,870.43 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,464.03 miles (16,840.19 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,437.32 miles (16,797.20 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,407.24 miles (16,748.79 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,396.68 miles (16,731.79 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,390.85 miles (16,722.41 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,385.65 miles (16,714.05 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,346.75 miles (16,651.44 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,286.61 miles (16,554.65 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,251.85 miles (16,498.71 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,248.69 miles (16,493.62 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,236.73 miles (16,474.37 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,205.75 miles (16,424.51 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 13.38 miles (21.53 km) ENE | RAF High Wycombe (HYC) | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 18.01 miles (28.98 km) NNW | Oxford Airport (OXF) | Oxford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 22.84 miles (36.76 km) WNW | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) | Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 22.86 miles (36.79 km) SSE | Blackbushe Airport (BBS) | Yateley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 27.22 miles (43.81 km) SSE | RAF Odiham (ODH) | Odiham, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 27.27 miles (43.88 km) SSE | Farnborough Airport (FAB) | Farnborough, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 28.90 miles (46.51 km) ESE | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 29.41 miles (47.34 km) E | RAF Northolt (NHT) | Ruislip, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 29.77 miles (47.92 km) S | Lasham Airfield (QLA) | Lasham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 30.10 miles (48.45 km) W | RAF Fairford (FFD) | Fairford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 32.59 miles (52.45 km) NNE | Milton Keynes Airport (KYN) | Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 35.88 miles (57.74 km) ENE | London Luton Airport (LTN) | Luton (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 37.64 miles (60.57 km) ENE | Hatfield Aerodrome (HTF) | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 39.31 miles (63.26 km) W | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 47.38 miles (76.26 km) SSW | Southampton Airport (SOU) | Eastleigh (near Southampton), England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,879.28 miles (19,117.81 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,856.22 miles (19,080.68 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,854.23 miles (19,077.49 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,851.63 miles (19,073.31 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,838.05 miles (19,051.45 km) ESE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,819.81 miles (19,022.09 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,815.78 miles (19,015.60 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,810.58 miles (19,007.24 km) SE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,802.08 miles (18,993.57 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,785.98 miles (18,967.65 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,785.41 miles (18,966.73 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,767.06 miles (18,937.19 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,759.25 miles (18,924.64 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,754.85 miles (18,917.55 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,740.74 miles (18,894.85 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |