Nonstop flight route between Midland/Bay City/Saginaw, Michigan, United States and Francistown, Botswana:
Departure Airport:
(43°31'58"N by 84°4'46"W)
Arrival Airport:
(21°9'33"S by 27°28'27"E)
Distance from MBS to FRW:
8,277.54 miles (13,321.37 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MBS Airport Information
- FRW Airport Information
- Facts about MBS
- Facts about FRW
- Map of Nearest Airports to MBS
- List of Nearest Airports to MBS
- Map of Furthest Airports from MBS
- List of Furthest Airports from MBS
- Map of Nearest Airports to FRW
- List of Nearest Airports to FRW
- Map of Furthest Airports from FRW
- List of Furthest Airports from FRW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between MBS International Airport (MBS), Midland/Bay City/Saginaw, Michigan, United States and Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW), Francistown, Botswana would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,278 miles (or 13,321 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 MBS International Airport and Francistown International Airport/Francistown 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 MBS International Airport and Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MBS / KMBS |
| Airport Name: | MBS International Airport |
| Location: | Midland/Bay City/Saginaw, Michigan, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 43°31'58"N by 84°4'46"W |
| Area Served: | Saginaw, Michigan Midland, Michigan Bay City, Michigan |
| Operator/Owner: | Bay County, Michigan, Midland, Michigan, Saginaw, Michigan |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 668 feet (204 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MBS |
| More Information: | MBS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | FRW / FBFT |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Francistown, Botswana |
| GPS Coordinates: | 21°9'33"S by 27°28'27"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Botswana Defence Force/Botswana CAA |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military |
| Elevation: | 3283 feet (1,001 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FRW |
| More Information: | FRW Maps & Info |
Facts about MBS International Airport (MBS):
- Because of MBS International Airport's relatively low elevation of 668 feet, planes can take off or land at MBS International 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 MBS International Airport (MBS) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,213 miles (18,046 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In 2006 the Airport Commission announced it had approved plans for the construction of a new state-of-the-art passenger terminal.
- The commercial airport is a special municipal body owned by Bay County and the cities of Midland and Saginaw.
- Once the third busiest airport in Michigan, MBS has fallen in air service and passenger numbers.
- MBS International Airport (MBS) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to MBS International Airport (MBS) is Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP), which is located 33 miles (54 kilometers) W of MBS.
- DAL Global Services operates ground handling duties for Delta and Delta Connection at MBS.
Facts about Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW):
- In addition to being known as "Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base", another name for FRW is "FBFT [1]".
- However, currently the project is expected to miss its May deadline, after the airport in Gaborone also missed its deadline set date for May 10, 2010, with contractors at both sites struggling to finalise each stage of construction in time.
- The furthest airport from Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is nearly antipodal to Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (meaning Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Hilo International Airport), and is located 12,246 miles (19,707 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- In 2011 the airport's ownership of the old terminal was transferred to the Botswana Defence Force and became a military airport, with civilian traffic moved to the new Francistown International Airport terminal to the west of the airport lands.
- Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) is Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ), which is located 108 miles (174 kilometers) NE of FRW.
- The airport received plans for reconstruction and expansion in 2008 to be completed in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as Francistown could receive an influx of foreign tourists due to the World Cup in neighbouring South Africa.
- The estimated cost for all three expansion phases is expected to exceed P500 million, and will all be completed at the same time, around May 2010.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 33.49 miles (53.90 km) W | Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP) | Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States |     |
| 2 | 33.82 miles (54.42 km) WSW | Gratiot Community Airport (AMN) | Alma, Michigan, United States | |
| 3 | 36.11 miles (58.12 km) NNW | Gladwin Zettel Memorial Airport (GDW) | Gladwin, Michigan, United States | |
| 4 | 42.69 miles (68.70 km) SSE | Bishop International Airport (FNT) | Flint, Michigan, United States | |
| 5 | 58.02 miles (93.38 km) SSW | Capital Region International Airport (LAN) | Lansing, Michigan, United States | |
| 6 | 64.26 miles (103.42 km) NNW | Roscommon County - Blodgett Memorial Airport (HTL) | Houghton Lake, Michigan, United States | |
| 7 | 68.53 miles (110.30 km) SSE | Oakland County International Airport (PTK) | Waterford, Michigan, United States | |
| 8 | 72.06 miles (115.96 km) NNE | Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport (OSC) | Oscoda, Michigan, United States | |
| 9 | 72.44 miles (116.57 km) W | Roben-Hood Airport (WBR) | Big Rapids, Michigan, United States | |
| 10 | 76.11 miles (122.49 km) WNW | Nartron Field (RCT) | Reed City, Michigan, United States | |
| 11 | 84.12 miles (135.38 km) NW | Wexford County Airport (CAD) | Cadillac, Michigan, United States | |
| 12 | 85.50 miles (137.60 km) WSW | Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | |
| 13 | 89.12 miles (143.43 km) ESE | St. Clair County International Airport (PHN) | Port Huron, Michigan, United States | |
| 14 | 89.57 miles (144.15 km) SE | Selfridge Air National Guard Base (MTC) | Mount Clemens, Michigan, United States | |
| 15 | 89.99 miles (144.83 km) SSW | Jackson County Airport (JXN) | Jackson, Michigan, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,213.03 miles (18,045.57 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,189.09 miles (18,007.05 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,179.94 miles (17,992.33 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,163.27 miles (17,965.49 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,129.19 miles (17,910.65 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,107.39 miles (17,875.57 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,096.76 miles (17,858.46 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,086.97 miles (17,842.70 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,085.76 miles (17,840.76 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,045.55 miles (17,776.04 km) SW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,982.25 miles (17,674.18 km) SW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,950.35 miles (17,622.83 km) SW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,940.52 miles (17,607.01 km) SW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,933.31 miles (17,595.41 km) SW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,890.29 miles (17,526.18 km) WSW | Esperance Airport (EPR) | Esperance, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 108.15 miles (174.04 km) NE | Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | |
| 2 | 177.23 miles (285.23 km) N | Hwange National Park Airport (HWN) | Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe | |
| 3 | 195.21 miles (314.16 km) NE | Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE) | Gweru, Zimbabwe | |
| 4 | 224.67 miles (361.56 km) SE | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 5 | 231.79 miles (373.02 km) ENE | Masvingo Airport (MVZ) | Masvingo, Zimbabwe | |
| 6 | 236.92 miles (381.28 km) NNW | Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | |
| 7 | 254.47 miles (409.52 km) NNW | Livingstone Airport (LVI) | Livingstone, Zambia | |
| 8 | 254.68 miles (409.87 km) SSW | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 9 | 264.79 miles (426.13 km) E | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| 10 | 274.11 miles (441.13 km) WNW | Maun Airport (MUB) | Maun, Botswana | |
| 11 | 274.92 miles (442.45 km) NNW | Kasane Airport (BBK) | Kasane, Botswana | |
| 12 | 289.04 miles (465.16 km) S | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 296.07 miles (476.48 km) SW | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 14 | 300.56 miles (483.71 km) SSW | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 15 | 303.25 miles (488.04 km) SE | Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) | Phalaborwa, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,245.59 miles (19,707.31 km) ENE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,218.36 miles (19,663.49 km) ENE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,212.63 miles (19,654.27 km) ENE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,211.04 miles (19,651.72 km) ENE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,210.32 miles (19,650.56 km) E | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,188.69 miles (19,615.75 km) ENE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,184.32 miles (19,608.72 km) E | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,169.04 miles (19,584.12 km) E | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,150.23 miles (19,553.84 km) E | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,150.10 miles (19,553.65 km) E | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,142.28 miles (19,541.06 km) E | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,089.08 miles (19,455.43 km) E | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,089.08 miles (19,455.43 km) E | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 12,081.19 miles (19,442.75 km) E | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 12,079.58 miles (19,440.14 km) E | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |