Nonstop flight route between Carbondale/Murphysboro, Illinois, United States and Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(37°46'41"N by 89°15'6"W)
Arrival Airport:
(51°36'59"N by 1°5'44"W)
Distance from MDH to BEX:
4,163.89 miles (6,701.11 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MDH Airport Information
- BEX Airport Information
- Facts about MDH
- Facts about BEX
- Map of Nearest Airports to MDH
- List of Nearest Airports to MDH
- Map of Furthest Airports from MDH
- List of Furthest Airports from MDH
- 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 Southern Illinois Airport (MDH), Carbondale/Murphysboro, Illinois, United States and RAF Benson (BEX), Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,164 miles (or 6,701 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 Southern Illinois 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 Southern Illinois 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: | MDH / KMDH |
| Airport Name: | Southern Illinois Airport |
| Location: | Carbondale/Murphysboro, Illinois, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°46'41"N by 89°15'6"W |
| Area Served: | Carbondale / Murphysboro, Illinois |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 411 feet (125 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MDH |
| More Information: | MDH 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 Southern Illinois Airport (MDH):
- The closest airport to Southern Illinois Airport (MDH) is Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) E of MDH.
- The airport is owned and operated by Southern Illinois Airport Authority, a local governmental entity created under state law.
- Southern Illinois Airport is also the home operating base for Southern Illinois University's aviation flight and aviation technologies programs.
- The furthest airport from Southern Illinois Airport (MDH) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,052 miles (17,786 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Based upon a study commissioned by the Illinois Aeronautics Division, the airport contributes more than $13.8 million in direct and indirect benefits to the region on an annual basis.
- Southern Illinois Airport (MDH) has 3 runways.
- Because of Southern Illinois Airport's relatively low elevation of 411 feet, planes can take off or land at Southern Illinois 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.
Facts about RAF Benson (BEX):
- 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.
- Building work for RAF Benson began in 1937.
- 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.
- 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 Battles were replaced in December 1940 with Vickers Wellington medium bombers.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 13.25 miles (21.32 km) E | Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA) | Marion, Illinois, United States |     |
| 2 | 42.00 miles (67.60 km) SSW | Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI) | Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States | |
| 3 | 43.33 miles (69.73 km) NNE | Mt. Vernon Airport (MVN) | Mount Vernon, Illinois, United States | |
| 4 | 56.13 miles (90.33 km) SSE | Barkley Regional Airport (PAH) | Paducah, Kentucky, United States | |
| 5 | 61.76 miles (99.38 km) NNE | Salem–Leckrone Airport (SLO) | Salem, Illinois, United States | |
| 6 | 61.76 miles (99.39 km) NNW | MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| 7 | 63.08 miles (101.52 km) SSW | Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield (SIK) | Sikeston, Missouri, United States | |
| 8 | 73.43 miles (118.17 km) N | Greenville Airport (GRE) | Greenville, Illinois, United States | |
| 9 | 73.57 miles (118.39 km) NW | St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS) | Cahokia, Illinois (near St. Louis), United States | |
| 10 | 88.08 miles (141.75 km) NNW | St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN) | Alton, Illinois, United States | |
| 11 | 90.04 miles (144.90 km) NW | Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| 12 | 90.88 miles (146.26 km) SSE | Murray-Calloway County Airport (CEY) | Murray, Kentucky, United States | |
| 13 | 91.13 miles (146.67 km) SSW | Malden Regional Airport (MAW) | Malden, Missouri, United States | |
| 14 | 95.53 miles (153.74 km) ENE | Evansville Regional Airport (EVV) | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |
| 15 | 97.50 miles (156.92 km) NW | Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) | Chesterfield, Missouri, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,051.53 miles (17,785.68 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,029.89 miles (17,750.84 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,007.86 miles (17,715.39 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,001.79 miles (17,705.62 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,981.21 miles (17,672.50 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,965.17 miles (17,646.68 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,957.71 miles (17,634.68 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,956.35 miles (17,632.49 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,925.97 miles (17,583.60 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,923.77 miles (17,580.06 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,908.91 miles (17,556.14 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,907.23 miles (17,553.44 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,872.34 miles (17,497.29 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,871.76 miles (17,496.37 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,870.81 miles (17,494.82 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 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 | |