Nonstop flight route between Wichita, Kansas, United States and Bluefield, West Virginia, United States:
Departure Airport:
(37°37'23"N by 97°16'1"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°17'44"N by 81°12'28"W)
Distance from IAB to BLF:
880.00 miles (1,416.22 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- IAB Airport Information
- BLF Airport Information
- Facts about IAB
- Facts about BLF
- Map of Nearest Airports to IAB
- List of Nearest Airports to IAB
- Map of Furthest Airports from IAB
- List of Furthest Airports from IAB
- Map of Nearest Airports to BLF
- List of Nearest Airports to BLF
- Map of Furthest Airports from BLF
- List of Furthest Airports from BLF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield (IAB), Wichita, Kansas, United States and Mercer County Airport (BLF), Bluefield, West Virginia, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 880 miles (or 1,416 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 relatively short distance between McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield and Mercer County Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | IAB / KIAB |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Wichita, Kansas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°37'23"N by 97°16'1"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from IAB |
| More Information: | IAB Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BLF / KBLF |
| Airport Name: | Mercer County Airport |
| Location: | Bluefield, West Virginia, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°17'44"N by 81°12'28"W |
| Area Served: | Bluefield / Princeton, West Virginia |
| Operator/Owner: | Mercer County Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2857 feet (871 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BLF |
| More Information: | BLF Maps & Info |
Facts about McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield (IAB):
- On 6 October 1941, the unit was ordered to extended active duty and remained an integral part of the United States Army Air Corps until 6 October 1945, with duty assignments in Tennessee and Okinawa.
- In August 1941, the Kansas National Guard 127th Observation Squadron was activated as the first military unit assigned to the Wichita airport.
- In addition to being known as "McConnell Air Force Base Wichita Army Airfield", another name for IAB is "McConnell AFB".
- In October 1962, the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing was reactivated at McConnell with four fighter squadrons.
- On 31 May 1951, the USAF took title to Wichita Municipal Airport, and on 4 June the Air Training Command 3520th Combat Crew Training Wing was activated at the facility.
- Other facilities at the airport, however, were meager.
- 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.
- The Air Force was not the sole occupant during this period.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Mercer County Airport (BLF):
- The furthest airport from Mercer County Airport (BLF) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,493 miles (18,496 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Mercer County Airport (BLF) is New River Valley Airport (PSK), which is located 31 miles (50 kilometers) ESE of BLF.
- The airport has been served by commercial airlines in the past.
- Mercer County Airport (BLF) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 1.99 miles (3.20 km) NNE | Cessna Aircraft Field (CEA) | Wichita, Kansas, United States |     |
| 2 | 5.70 miles (9.17 km) NNE | Beech Factory Airport (BEC) | Wichita, Kansas, United States | |
| 3 | 9.26 miles (14.91 km) WNW | Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) | Wichita, Kansas, United States | |
| 4 | 26.71 miles (42.99 km) ENE | Captain Jack Thomas/El Dorado Airport (EDK) | El Dorado, Kansas, United States | |
| 5 | 30.08 miles (48.40 km) N | Newton City-County Airport (EWK) | Newton, Kansas, United States | |
| 6 | 33.84 miles (54.45 km) SSE | Strother Field (WLD) | Winfield/Arkansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| 7 | 44.53 miles (71.66 km) NW | Hutchinson Municipal Airport (HUT) | Hutchinson, Kansas, United States | |
| 8 | 54.95 miles (88.43 km) SW | Anthony Municipal Airport (ANY) | Anthony, Kansas, United States | |
| 9 | 57.22 miles (92.09 km) S | Earl Henry Airport (BWL) | Blackwell, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 10 | 62.26 miles (100.19 km) S | Ponca City Regional Airport (PNC) | Ponca City, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 11 | 76.37 miles (122.90 km) NE | Emporia Municipal Airport (EMP) | Emporia, Kansas, United States | |
| 12 | 77.29 miles (124.39 km) SW | Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field (CKA) | Cherokee, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 13 | 81.12 miles (130.55 km) W | Pratt Regional Airport (PTT) | Pratt, Kansas, United States | |
| 14 | 83.33 miles (134.11 km) NNW | Salina Regional Airport (SLN) | Salina, Kansas, United States | |
| 15 | 87.81 miles (141.32 km) ESE | Independence Municipal Airport (IDP) | Independence, Kansas, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,740.35 miles (17,284.87 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,613.71 miles (17,081.06 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,592.19 miles (17,046.44 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,570.38 miles (17,011.34 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,563.66 miles (17,000.52 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,545.86 miles (16,971.87 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,529.43 miles (16,945.43 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,527.19 miles (16,941.83 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,523.83 miles (16,936.42 km) ESE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 10 | 10,520.84 miles (16,931.61 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,501.35 miles (16,900.25 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,489.96 miles (16,881.92 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,485.79 miles (16,875.19 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,475.47 miles (16,858.60 km) SSW | Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK) | Cocos Islands, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,469.15 miles (16,848.42 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 31.11 miles (50.07 km) ESE | New River Valley Airport (PSK) | Dublin, Virginia, United States | |
| 2 | 34.26 miles (55.13 km) N | Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) | Beckley, West Virginia, United States | |
| 3 | 44.42 miles (71.48 km) E | Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport (BCB) | Blacksburg, Virginia, United States | |
| 4 | 58.90 miles (94.80 km) NE | Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) | Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States | |
| 5 | 61.99 miles (99.76 km) SW | Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI) | Abingdon, Virginia, United States | |
| 6 | 67.75 miles (109.03 km) E | Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | |
| 7 | 74.39 miles (119.72 km) S | Wilkes County Airport (IKB) | North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United States | |
| 8 | 75.88 miles (122.11 km) WSW | Lonesome Pine Airport (LNP) | Wise, Virginia, United States | |
| 9 | 77.53 miles (124.77 km) NNW | Yeager Airport (CRW) | Charleston, West Virginia, United States | |
| 10 | 87.23 miles (140.39 km) SW | Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) | Blountville, Tennessee (Tri-Cities area), United States | |
| 11 | 97.11 miles (156.28 km) SE | Smith Reynolds Airport (INT) | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States | |
| 12 | 104.38 miles (167.99 km) SSW | Foothills Regional Airport (MRN) | Morganton, North Carolina, United States | |
| 13 | 104.45 miles (168.10 km) NW | Tri-State Airport (HTS) | Huntington, West Virginia, United States | |
| 14 | 104.64 miles (168.41 km) NW | Lawrence County Airpark (HTW) | Chesapeake, Ohio / Huntington, West Virginia, United States | |
| 15 | 107.89 miles (173.64 km) S | Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) | Hickory, North Carolina, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,493.06 miles (18,496.25 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,471.25 miles (18,461.14 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,448.92 miles (18,425.21 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,443.63 miles (18,416.70 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,418.96 miles (18,376.99 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,403.58 miles (18,352.24 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,394.39 miles (18,337.45 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,387.55 miles (18,326.44 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,364.93 miles (18,290.03 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,349.04 miles (18,264.47 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,346.23 miles (18,259.94 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,320.00 miles (18,217.74 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,297.53 miles (18,181.57 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,293.50 miles (18,175.09 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,265.80 miles (18,130.50 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |