Nonstop flight route between Hoedspruit, South Africa and Emmen, Lucerne, Switzerland:
Departure Airport:
(24°21'16"S by 31°3'1"E)
Arrival Airport:
(47°5'31"N by 8°18'3"E)
Distance from HDS to EML:
5,136.38 miles (8,266.18 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- HDS Airport Information
- EML Airport Information
- Facts about HDS
- Facts about EML
- Map of Nearest Airports to HDS
- List of Nearest Airports to HDS
- Map of Furthest Airports from HDS
- List of Furthest Airports from HDS
- Map of Nearest Airports to EML
- List of Nearest Airports to EML
- Map of Furthest Airports from EML
- List of Furthest Airports from EML
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS), Hoedspruit, South Africa and Emmen Swiss Air Base (EML), Emmen, Lucerne, Switzerland would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,136 miles (or 8,266 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 Air Force Base Hoedspruit and Emmen Swiss Air Base, 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 Air Force Base Hoedspruit and Emmen Swiss Air Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | HDS / FAHS |
| Airport Name: | Air Force Base Hoedspruit |
| Location: | Hoedspruit, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 24°21'16"S by 31°3'1"E |
| Operator/Owner: | South African Air Force |
| Airport Type: | Military and Civil |
| Elevation: | 1742 feet (531 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from HDS |
| More Information: | HDS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | EML / LSME |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Emmen, Lucerne, Switzerland |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°5'31"N by 8°18'3"E |
| Area Served: | Emmen, Lucerne, Switzerland |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| View all routes: | Routes from EML |
| More Information: | EML Maps & Info |
Facts about Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS):
- The base is teeming with wildlife, being surrounded by the 25 km² AFB Hoedspruit Game Reserve.
- The base was officially opened on 1 July 1978.
- The base gained international media attention in 2000, when it hosted the United States Air Force's rescue contingent as part of Operation Atlas Response, the mission to provide rescue and humanitarian support to areas of Mozambique devastated by the severe flooding caused by Cyclone Eline.
- Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) is Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) NNE of HDS.
- The furthest airport from Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,932 miles (19,202 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
Facts about Emmen Swiss Air Base (EML):
- The closest airport to Emmen Swiss Air Base (EML) is Zurich Airport (ZRH), which is located 28 miles (45 kilometers) NNE of EML.
- The furthest airport from Emmen Swiss Air Base (EML) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Emmen Swiss Air Base (meaning Emmen Swiss Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,113 miles (19,495 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- In addition to being known as "Emmen Swiss Air Base", another name for EML is "Flugplatzkommando Emmen".
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 29.63 miles (47.68 km) NNE | Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) | Phalaborwa, South Africa |     |
| 2 | 44.61 miles (71.79 km) SE | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 3 | 71.15 miles (114.51 km) S | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 4 | 106.38 miles (171.20 km) WNW | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 5 | 144.13 miles (231.95 km) SE | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 6 | 151.08 miles (243.13 km) S | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 7 | 198.41 miles (319.31 km) WSW | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 8 | 214.07 miles (344.50 km) WSW | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 9 | 214.26 miles (344.81 km) SW | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 10 | 222.83 miles (358.62 km) SW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 11 | 223.17 miles (359.15 km) SW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | 223.95 miles (360.41 km) WSW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 13 | 233.67 miles (376.06 km) N | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| 14 | 252.30 miles (406.04 km) WSW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 15 | 263.61 miles (424.23 km) SSE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,931.88 miles (19,202.44 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,923.49 miles (19,188.95 km) ENE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,912.60 miles (19,171.42 km) ENE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,912.32 miles (19,170.97 km) ENE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,903.42 miles (19,156.66 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,903.12 miles (19,156.17 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,891.59 miles (19,137.61 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,881.81 miles (19,121.88 km) ENE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,881.57 miles (19,121.49 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,872.70 miles (19,107.21 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,870.01 miles (19,102.88 km) ENE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,828.32 miles (19,035.79 km) ENE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,828.32 miles (19,035.79 km) ENE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,825.46 miles (19,031.18 km) ENE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,819.20 miles (19,021.10 km) ENE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 28.24 miles (45.45 km) NNE | Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Zürich, Switzerland | |
| 2 | 39.78 miles (64.02 km) WSW | Bern Airport (BRN) | Bern, Switzerland | |
| 3 | 49.89 miles (80.29 km) NW | EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg (BSL) | Basel, Switzerland | |
| 4 | 49.89 miles (80.29 km) NW | EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg (MLH) | Mulhouse, France | |
| 5 | 65.00 miles (104.61 km) ENE | St. Gallen–Altenrhein Airport (ACH) | Altenrhein, Switzerland | |
| 6 | 68.65 miles (110.48 km) ENE | Hohenems-Dornbirn Airport (HOH) | Hohenems, Austria | |
| 7 | 69.33 miles (111.58 km) NE | Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH) | Friedrichshafen, Bodensee, Germany | |
| 8 | 75.82 miles (122.02 km) WNW | Montbéliard - Courcelles Aerodrome (XMF) | Montbéliard, France | |
| 9 | 75.96 miles (122.25 km) SW | Sion Airport (SIR) | Sion, Switzerland | |
| 10 | 80.59 miles (129.70 km) SSE | Lugano Airport (LUG) | Lugano, Agno, Switzerland | |
| 11 | 82.91 miles (133.42 km) NNW | Colmar - Houssen Airport (CMR) | Colmar / Houssen, France | |
| 12 | 84.20 miles (135.50 km) ESE | Samedan Airport (SMV) | St. Moritz / Samedan, Switzerland | |
| 13 | 88.15 miles (141.86 km) WSW | Lausanne Airport (QLS) | Lausanne, Switzerland | |
| 14 | 90.94 miles (146.35 km) NNW | Black Forest Airport (LHA) | Lahr, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 15 | 103.01 miles (165.78 km) SSE | Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) | Milano, Italy | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,113.46 miles (19,494.68 km) SE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,680.24 miles (18,797.47 km) ESE | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,660.30 miles (18,765.39 km) ESE | Wellington International Airport (WLG) | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,658.54 miles (18,762.55 km) SE | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,655.62 miles (18,757.86 km) SE | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,650.83 miles (18,750.15 km) ESE | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,650.69 miles (18,749.92 km) ESE | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,648.45 miles (18,746.31 km) ESE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,632.55 miles (18,720.73 km) ESE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,627.74 miles (18,712.98 km) ESE | Woodbourne Airport (BHE) | Blenheim, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,611.00 miles (18,686.05 km) ESE | Wanganui Airport (WAG) | Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,609.44 miles (18,683.54 km) E | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,599.67 miles (18,667.81 km) E | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,592.95 miles (18,657.00 km) SE | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,592.37 miles (18,656.07 km) E | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |