Nonstop flight route between Wichita, Kansas, United States and Beirut, Lebanon:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield (IAB), Wichita, Kansas, United States and Beirut Air Base (BEY), Beirut, Lebanon would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,642 miles (or 10,690 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 McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield and Beirut 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 McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield and Beirut Air Base. 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 McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield (IAB):

• By the summer of 1950, Boeing was ready to turn out the first production models of the B-47, and the United States Air Force sought to make Wichita Airport a permanent military installation.
• In addition to being known as "McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield", another name for IAB is "McConnell AFB".
• The closest airport to McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield (IAB) is Cessna Aircraft Field (CEA), which is located only 2 miles (3 kilometers) NNE of IAB.
• On 1 March 1962, Strategic Air Command stood up the 381st Strategic Missile Wing.
• McConnell's primary mission is to provide global reach by conducting air refueling and airlift where and when needed.
• The Air Force was not the sole occupant during this period.
• Wichita Airport was returned to civilian jurisdiction, and it remained so until 1951.
• The furthest airport from McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield (IAB) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,740 miles (17,285 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• In spite of the difficulty of building an installation and initiating an entirely new program simultaneously, the base developed into a highly specialized training center.
• Other facilities at the airport, however, were meager.

Facts about Beirut Air Base (BEY):

• Currently, the Lebanese Air Force occupies part of the west end of the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport and has been the base of most of the helicopter force for almost 50 years, which include the Hawker Hunters, Fouga Magisters and other aircraft during certain periods.
• In addition to being known as "Beirut Air Base", another name for BEY is "قاعدة بيروت الجوية".
• After the formation of the air force, the Beirut Air Base was established in 1950.
• The closest airport to Beirut Air Base (BEY) is Kiryat Shmona Airport (KSW), which is located 42 miles (68 kilometers) S of BEY.
• Because of Beirut Air Base's relatively low elevation of 87 feet, planes can take off or land at Beirut Air Base 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.
• Beirut Air Base (BEY) has 2 runways.
• The furthest airport from Beirut Air Base (BEY) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,547 miles (18,582 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.