Nonstop flight route between Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lakenheath, England, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(5°47'53"S by 13°26'30"E)
Arrival Airport:
(52°24'29"N by 0°33'24"E)
Distance from MAT to LKZ:
4,092.48 miles (6,586.19 km)
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- About this route
- MAT Airport Information
- LKZ Airport Information
- Facts about MAT
- Facts about LKZ
- Map of Nearest Airports to MAT
- List of Nearest Airports to MAT
- Map of Furthest Airports from MAT
- List of Furthest Airports from MAT
- Map of Nearest Airports to LKZ
- List of Nearest Airports to LKZ
- Map of Furthest Airports from LKZ
- List of Furthest Airports from LKZ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Tshimpi Airport (Matadi Airport) (MAT), Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and RAF Lakenheath (LKZ), Lakenheath, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,092 miles (or 6,586 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 Tshimpi Airport (Matadi Airport) and RAF Lakenheath, 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 Tshimpi Airport (Matadi Airport) and RAF Lakenheath. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MAT / FZAM |
| Airport Name: | Tshimpi Airport (Matadi Airport) |
| Location: | Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| GPS Coordinates: | 5°47'53"S by 13°26'30"E |
| Elevation: | 0 feet (0 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from MAT |
| More Information: | MAT Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | LKZ / EGUL |
| Airport Name: | RAF Lakenheath |
| Location: | Lakenheath, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 52°24'29"N by 0°33'24"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Defence |
| View all routes: | Routes from LKZ |
| More Information: | LKZ Maps & Info |
Facts about Tshimpi Airport (Matadi Airport) (MAT):
- Because of Tshimpi Airport (Matadi Airport)'s relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Tshimpi Airport (Matadi 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.
- The furthest airport from Tshimpi Airport (Matadi Airport) (MAT) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is located 11,750 miles (18,909 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.
- The closest airport to Tshimpi Airport (Matadi Airport) (MAT) is Boma Airport (BOA), which is located 26 miles (42 kilometers) W of MAT.
Facts about RAF Lakenheath (LKZ):
- Royal Air Force Lakenheath or RAF Lakenheath, is a Royal Air Force station near the town of Lakenheath in Suffolk, England located 4.7 miles north-east of Mildenhall, Suffolk and 8.3 miles west of Thetford, Norfolk.
- Taking part in more than 350 operations, more than half mine-laying, 149 Squadron had one of the lowest percentage loss rates of all Stirling squadrons.
- Control of RAF Lakenheath was allocated to Third Air Force at South Ruislip Air Station, which had command of SAC B-29 operations in England.
- Lakenheath Airfield was used by RAF flying units on detachment late in 1941.
- The work entailed removal of the existing runways and laying new ones comprising 12 inches of high-grade concrete.
- The closest airport to RAF Lakenheath (LKZ) is RAF Mildenhall (MHZ), which is located only 4 miles (7 kilometers) SW of LKZ.
- The furthest airport from RAF Lakenheath (LKZ) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,827 miles (19,034 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- Many SAC Squadrons had aircraft at RAF Lakenheath on a transitotry basis without any recorded deployment to the base.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 26.27 miles (42.28 km) W | Boma Airport (BOA) | Boma, Democratic Republic of the Congo |     |
| 2 | 75.47 miles (121.46 km) W | Muanda Airport (Moanda Airport) (MNB) | Muanda (Moanda), Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 3 | 87.30 miles (140.50 km) W | Cabinda Airport (CAB) | Cabinda, Angola | |
| 4 | 108.47 miles (174.57 km) SSW | N'Zeto/Ambrizete Airport (ARZ) | N'zeto, Angola | |
| 5 | 108.47 miles (174.57 km) SSW | Namibe Airport (MSZ) | Namibe, Angola | |
| 6 | 122.47 miles (197.10 km) NNW | Dolisie Airport (DIS) | Dolisie, Republic of Congo | |
| 7 | 126.84 miles (204.13 km) WNW | Pointe Noire Agostinho Neto International Airport (PNR) | Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo | |
| 8 | 128.42 miles (206.67 km) NNE | Mouyondzi Airport (MUY) | Mouyondzi, Republic of the Congo | |
| 9 | 144.38 miles (232.35 km) S | Ambriz Airport (AZZ) | Ambriz, Angola | |
| 10 | 147.61 miles (237.56 km) NNE | Kindamba Airport (KNJ) | Kindamba, Republic of the Congo | |
| 11 | 164.20 miles (264.25 km) NE | Maya–Maya Airport (BZV) | Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo | |
| 12 | 168.89 miles (271.81 km) NE | N'djili Airport (FIH) | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 13 | 169.75 miles (273.19 km) NNW | Makabana Airport (KMK) | Makabana, Republic of the Congo | |
| 14 | 185.21 miles (298.06 km) SE | Negage Airport (GXG) | Negage, Angola | |
| 15 | 203.32 miles (327.22 km) NNW | Mossendjo Airport (MSX) | Mossendjo, Republic of the Congo | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,749.65 miles (18,909.18 km) WNW | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 2 | 11,746.47 miles (18,904.06 km) NNE | Canton Island Airport (CIS) | Canton Island, Kiribati | |
| 3 | 11,655.22 miles (18,757.21 km) NNE | Johnston Atoll Airport (JON) | Johnston Atoll, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands | |
| 4 | 11,255.32 miles (18,113.64 km) SSW | Manihiki Island Airport (MHX) | Manihiki Island, Cook Islands | |
| 5 | 11,242.37 miles (18,092.80 km) NW | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,231.30 miles (18,074.98 km) NNW | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,227.93 miles (18,069.56 km) NNW | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,223.98 miles (18,063.20 km) NNW | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,223.72 miles (18,062.77 km) NW | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,219.41 miles (18,055.84 km) NNW | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,218.63 miles (18,054.59 km) NNW | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,218.63 miles (18,054.59 km) NNW | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,217.47 miles (18,052.72 km) NNW | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,212.99 miles (18,045.52 km) NW | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,212.30 miles (18,044.41 km) NNW | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 4.38 miles (7.05 km) SW | RAF Mildenhall (MHZ) | Mildenhall, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 10.20 miles (16.41 km) ESE | RAF Honington USAAF Station 375 (BEQ) | Bury St. Edmunds, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 16.58 miles (26.69 km) N | RAF Marham (KNF) | Marham, Norfolk, East Anglia, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 21.39 miles (34.42 km) SW | Cambridge International Airport (CBG) | Cambridge, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 28.36 miles (45.63 km) SW | Duxford Aerodrome (QFO) | Duxford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 30.09 miles (48.43 km) S | MDPGA Wethersfield (WXF) | Braintree, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 33.02 miles (53.13 km) W | RAF AlconburyUSAAF Station 102 (AYH) | Alconbury, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 35.67 miles (57.41 km) ENE | Norwich International Airport (NWI) | Norwich, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 37.55 miles (60.42 km) SE | Ipswich Airport (IPW) | Ipswich, England | |
| 10 | 38.65 miles (62.19 km) SSW | London Stansted Airport (STN) | Essex (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 40.39 miles (65.01 km) ENE | Coltishall (IATA off-point) (CLF) | Coltishall, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 53.83 miles (86.63 km) SW | London Luton Airport (LTN) | Luton (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 55.37 miles (89.11 km) WNW | RAF Cottesmore (OKH) | Oakham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 56.09 miles (90.27 km) SW | Hatfield Aerodrome (HTF) | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 56.14 miles (90.35 km) NNW | RAF Coningsby (QCY) | Coningsby, England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,827.09 miles (19,033.81 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,790.32 miles (18,974.63 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,766.44 miles (18,936.20 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,763.52 miles (18,931.50 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,749.39 miles (18,908.77 km) ESE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,732.88 miles (18,882.19 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,726.83 miles (18,872.46 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,724.93 miles (18,869.40 km) SE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,718.31 miles (18,858.75 km) SE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,697.18 miles (18,824.74 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,696.39 miles (18,823.46 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,679.36 miles (18,796.06 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,675.07 miles (18,789.16 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,671.69 miles (18,783.72 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,651.69 miles (18,751.53 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |