Nonstop flight route between Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Destin, Florida, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from GKE to DSI:
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- GKE Airport Information
- DSI Airport Information
- Facts about GKE
- Facts about DSI
- Map of Nearest Airports to GKE
- List of Nearest Airports to GKE
- Map of Furthest Airports from GKE
- List of Furthest Airports from GKE
- Map of Nearest Airports to DSI
- List of Nearest Airports to DSI
- Map of Furthest Airports from DSI
- List of Furthest Airports from DSI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE), Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (DSI), Destin, Florida, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,721 miles (or 7,598 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 NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component and Destin–Fort Walton Beach 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 NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component and Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | GKE / ETNG |
Airport Name: | NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component |
Location: | Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
GPS Coordinates: | 50°57'38"N by 6°2'33"E |
Operator/Owner: | NATO |
Airport Type: | Military |
Elevation: | 296 feet (90 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from GKE |
More Information: | GKE Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | DSI / KDTS |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Destin, Florida, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 30°23'59"N by 86°28'17"W |
Area Served: | Destin, Florida |
Operator/Owner: | Okaloosa County |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 22 feet (7 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from DSI |
More Information: | DSI Maps & Info |
Facts about NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE):
- Since that time, most of the buildings on base have been renovated to present day standards and several new buildings have been erected.
- In January 1980 the first E-3A Component personnel started arriving at the base, and in October 1980 the NATO Defence Planning Committee granted the E-3A Component the status of a NATO International Military Headquarters.
- NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component's relatively low elevation of 296 feet, planes can take off or land at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component 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 fleet of E-3's has remained in operation since the Cold War and has adapted its mission to emerging security threats, primarily in European airspace.
- The furthest airport from NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,929 miles (19,198 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- The closest airport to NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen E–3A Component (GKE) is Merzbrück Airfield (AAH), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) SSE of GKE.
- The E-3A Component directly employs more than 3,000 personnel at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen and therefore has a significant economic impact in the surrounding communities.
- Normally, only a certain number of the E-3As and TCAs are present at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen at any given time.
- Major construction on the base initially included a new 3,000-metre runway with a width of 45 metres, as well as aprons and taxiways, a control tower, an Information Technology Wing building, on-base accommodation and major renovation of the four existing hangars.
Facts about Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (DSI):
- Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (DSI) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (DSI) is Shark Bay Airport (MJK), which is located 11,178 miles (17,990 kilometers) away in Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (DSI) is Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) NNW of DSI.
- Due to its close proximity to Eglin Air Force Base and the high levels of military flight activity, all flights to or from Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport must adhere to "special air traffic rules" and obtain ATC clearance before entering the Eglin/Valparaiso terminal area.
- In addition to being known as "Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport", other names for DSI include "Coleman Kelly Field" and "DTS".
- Because of Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport's relatively low elevation of 22 feet, planes can take off or land at Destin–Fort Walton Beach 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.