Nonstop flight route between West Lafayette, Indiana, United States and Mmabatho, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(40°24'43"N by 86°56'12"W)
Arrival Airport:
(25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E)
Distance from LAF to MBD:
8,497.05 miles (13,674.65 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- LAF Airport Information
- MBD Airport Information
- Facts about LAF
- Facts about MBD
- Map of Nearest Airports to LAF
- List of Nearest Airports to LAF
- Map of Furthest Airports from LAF
- List of Furthest Airports from LAF
- Map of Nearest Airports to MBD
- List of Nearest Airports to MBD
- Map of Furthest Airports from MBD
- List of Furthest Airports from MBD
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Purdue University Airport (LAF), West Lafayette, Indiana, United States and Mafikeng Airport (MBD), Mmabatho, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,497 miles (or 13,675 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 Purdue University Airport and Mafikeng 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 Purdue University Airport and Mafikeng Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | LAF / KLAF |
| Airport Name: | Purdue University Airport |
| Location: | West Lafayette, Indiana, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 40°24'43"N by 86°56'12"W |
| Area Served: | Lafayette, Indiana |
| Operator/Owner: | Purdue University |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 606 feet (185 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LAF |
| More Information: | LAF Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MBD / FAMM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Mmabatho, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E |
| Area Served: | Mafikeng, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4181 feet (1,274 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MBD |
| More Information: | MBD Maps & Info |
Facts about Purdue University Airport (LAF):
- The furthest airport from Purdue University Airport (LAF) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,148 miles (17,941 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Purdue University Airport was the first university-owned airport in the United States.
- The closest airport to Purdue University Airport (LAF) is Kentland Municipal Airport (KKT), which is located 35 miles (57 kilometers) NW of LAF.
- Because of Purdue University Airport's relatively low elevation of 606 feet, planes can take off or land at Purdue University 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.
- Runway 23 has a displaced threshold, which shortens the runway to 3,913 ft for landing operations.
- Purdue University Airport has an FAA-staffed air traffic control tower and is the second busiest tower in Indiana.
- In the early 60s, runway 10-28 and a larger hangar were built to support the Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction with two DC-6 aircraft.
- Purdue University Airport (LAF) has 2 runways.
Facts about Mafikeng Airport (MBD):
- Because of Mafikeng Airport's high elevation of 4,181 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MBD. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MBD a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The furthest airport from Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is nearly antipodal to Mafikeng Airport (meaning Mafikeng Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Kalaupapa Airport), and is located 12,081 miles (19,443 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Lobatse Airport (LOQ), which is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) NNE of MBD.
- In addition to being known as "Mafikeng Airport", another name for MBD is "Mmabatho Airport".
- Mafikeng Airport (MBD) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 35.18 miles (56.62 km) NW | Kentland Municipal Airport (KKT) | Kentland, Indiana, United States |     |
| 2 | 37.70 miles (60.67 km) WSW | Vermilion Regional Airport (DNV) | Danville, Illinois, United States | |
| 3 | 39.18 miles (63.05 km) NNW | Jasper County Airport (RNZ) | Rensselaer, Indiana, United States | |
| 4 | 44.31 miles (71.32 km) ENE | Grissom Air Reserve Base (GUS) | Peru, Indiana, United States | |
| 5 | 46.84 miles (75.38 km) E | Kokomo Municipal Airport (OKK) | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | |
| 6 | 58.82 miles (94.67 km) SE | Indianapolis International Airport (IND) | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |
| 7 | 60.01 miles (96.57 km) NE | Fulton County Airport (RCR) | Rochester, Indiana, United States | |
| 8 | 65.88 miles (106.03 km) NW | Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK) | Kankakee, Illinois, United States | |
| 9 | 66.32 miles (106.73 km) E | Marion Municipal Airport (MZZ) | Marion, Indiana, United States | |
| 10 | 69.23 miles (111.41 km) SSW | Terre Haute International Airport Hulman Field (HUF) | Terre Haute, Indiana, United States | |
| 11 | 72.07 miles (115.98 km) N | Porter County Regional Airport (VPZ) | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |
| 12 | 72.89 miles (117.30 km) ESE | Anderson Municipal Airport (AID) | Anderson, Indiana, United States | |
| 13 | 73.75 miles (118.69 km) NNE | Plymouth Municipal Airport (PLY) | Plymouth, Indiana, United States | |
| 14 | 75.30 miles (121.18 km) WSW | University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI) | Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, United States | |
| 15 | 76.64 miles (123.34 km) ESE | Pope Field (GFD) | Greenfield, Indiana, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,147.75 miles (17,940.52 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,124.78 miles (17,903.55 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,104.44 miles (17,870.82 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,100.77 miles (17,864.92 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,060.95 miles (17,800.82 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,047.06 miles (17,778.47 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,037.15 miles (17,762.53 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,037.03 miles (17,762.33 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,020.06 miles (17,735.03 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,009.29 miles (17,717.69 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,973.64 miles (17,660.32 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,945.09 miles (17,614.37 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,928.26 miles (17,587.28 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,921.42 miles (17,576.28 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,889.99 miles (17,525.70 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 43.45 miles (69.93 km) NNE | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 2 | 89.62 miles (144.23 km) NNE | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 3 | 98.86 miles (159.10 km) NNW | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 4 | 106.67 miles (171.67 km) ENE | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 5 | 148.34 miles (238.73 km) E | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 161.80 miles (260.39 km) E | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 164.61 miles (264.91 km) E | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 8 | 167.13 miles (268.97 km) E | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 9 | 169.37 miles (272.57 km) E | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 10 | 174.18 miles (280.31 km) SW | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 11 | 183.09 miles (294.65 km) ESE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 12 | 212.36 miles (341.75 km) SSW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 13 | 231.79 miles (373.03 km) SSE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 14 | 260.86 miles (419.81 km) SE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 268.46 miles (432.05 km) WNW | Hukuntsi Airport (HUK) | Hukuntsi, Botswana | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,081.43 miles (19,443.13 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,076.67 miles (19,435.46 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,075.25 miles (19,433.18 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,074.28 miles (19,431.63 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,073.76 miles (19,430.79 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,061.80 miles (19,411.53 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,060.85 miles (19,410.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,055.41 miles (19,401.25 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,050.73 miles (19,393.72 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,043.61 miles (19,382.26 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,035.62 miles (19,369.41 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 12,030.37 miles (19,360.96 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 12,028.29 miles (19,357.61 km) N | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |