Nonstop flight route between Ikela, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(1°11'59"S by 23°16'58"E)
Arrival Airport:
(51°36'59"N by 1°5'44"W)
Distance from IKL to BEX:
3,917.61 miles (6,304.76 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- IKL Airport Information
- BEX Airport Information
- Facts about IKL
- Facts about BEX
- Map of Nearest Airports to IKL
- List of Nearest Airports to IKL
- Map of Furthest Airports from IKL
- List of Furthest Airports from IKL
- 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 Ikela Airport (IKL), Ikela, Democratic Republic of the Congo and RAF Benson (BEX), Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,918 miles (or 6,305 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 Ikela 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 Ikela 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: | IKL / FZGV |
| Airport Name: | Ikela Airport |
| Location: | Ikela, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| GPS Coordinates: | 1°11'59"S by 23°16'58"E |
| Area Served: | Ikela, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Elevation: | 1283 feet (391 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from IKL |
| More Information: | IKL 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 Ikela Airport (IKL):
- The furthest airport from Ikela Airport (IKL) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is nearly antipodal to Ikela Airport (meaning Ikela Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cassidy International Airport), and is located 12,367 miles (19,903 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.
- The closest airport to Ikela Airport (IKL) is Lodja Airport (LJA), which is located 152 miles (245 kilometers) S of IKL.
Facts about RAF Benson (BEX):
- 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 station retained a reconnaissance role for some years after the war, with Avro Lancaster, Spitfire, Mosquito, Gloster Meteor PR.Mk 10 and English Electric Canberra PR.Mk 3 aircraft.
- The future of RAF Benson was in doubt for some time, while Project Belvedere was looking into closing at least one of Joint Helicopter Command's airfields.
- The Chiltern Air Support Unit helicopter and the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance helicopter are also both located here as lodger units.
- The station is today the home to four squadrons of Support Helicopters, 28 Squadron, 78 Squadron with Merlin helicopters and 33 Squadron and 230 Squadron with Puma helicopters.
- The closest airport to RAF Benson (BEX) is RAF High Wycombe (HYC), which is located only 13 miles (22 kilometers) ENE of BEX.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 152.22 miles (244.98 km) S | Lodja Airport (LJA) | Lodja, Democratic Republic of the Congo |     |
| 2 | 159.99 miles (257.48 km) NNE | Yangambi Airport (YAN) | Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 3 | 177.50 miles (285.66 km) WNW | Boende Airport (BNB) | Boende, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 4 | 183.47 miles (295.26 km) NE | Bangoka International Airport (FKI) | Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 5 | 217.12 miles (349.42 km) ESE | Kindu Airport (KND) | Kindu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 6 | 259.99 miles (418.41 km) S | Lusambo Airport (LBO) | Lusambo, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 7 | 263.56 miles (424.15 km) NNW | Lisala Airport (LIQ) | Lisala, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 8 | 291.65 miles (469.36 km) SW | Basongo Airport (BAN) | Basongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 9 | 293.84 miles (472.89 km) NW | Basankusu Airport (BSU) | Basankusu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 10 | 296.35 miles (476.93 km) W | Basango Mboliasa Airport (KRZ) | Kiri, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 11 | 296.60 miles (477.33 km) NNE | Buta Zega Airport (BZU) | Buta Zega, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 12 | 329.55 miles (530.36 km) S | Kananga Airport (KGA) | Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 13 | 340.59 miles (548.12 km) S | Mbuji Mayi Airport (MJM) | Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 14 | 348.98 miles (561.62 km) W | Inongo Airport (INO) | Inongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 15 | 355.24 miles (571.71 km) WNW | Mbandaka Airport (MDK) | Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,367.09 miles (19,902.85 km) NE | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 2 | 11,584.20 miles (18,642.92 km) SSE | Manihiki Island Airport (MHX) | Manihiki Island, Cook Islands | |
| 3 | 11,365.81 miles (18,291.45 km) ESE | Canton Island Airport (CIS) | Canton Island, Kiribati | |
| 4 | 11,198.90 miles (18,022.83 km) SSW | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,181.30 miles (17,994.51 km) SSW | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,171.60 miles (17,978.91 km) SSW | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,155.08 miles (17,952.32 km) N | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,152.21 miles (17,947.69 km) N | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,147.13 miles (17,939.52 km) N | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,141.42 miles (17,930.34 km) SSW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,141.36 miles (17,930.24 km) SSW | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,135.82 miles (17,921.31 km) N | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,133.81 miles (17,918.09 km) SSW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,118.24 miles (17,893.03 km) N | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,107.44 miles (17,875.65 km) SSW | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 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 | |