Nonstop flight route between Anambas Islands, Riau Province, Indonesia and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Matak Airport (MWK), Anambas Islands, Riau Province, Indonesia and Biggs Army Airfield (BIF), Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,196 miles (or 14,800 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 Matak Airport and Biggs Army Airfield, 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 Matak Airport and Biggs Army Airfield. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Matak Airport (MWK):

• In addition to being known as "Matak Airport", another name for MWK is "Bandar Udara Matak".
• The furthest airport from Matak Airport (MWK) is Crnl. FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport (IQT), which is nearly antipodal to Matak Airport (meaning Matak Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Crnl. FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport), and is located 12,394 miles (19,947 kilometers) away in Iquitos, Loreto, Peru.
• The closest airport to Matak Airport (MWK) is Tioman Airport (TOD), which is located 149 miles (240 kilometers) WSW of MWK.
• Because of Matak Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at Matak 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.
• Matak Airport (MWK) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Biggs Army Airfield (BIF):

• On 27 September 1947, Biggs Army Airfield became Biggs Air Force Base with the establishment of the United States Air Force, replacing the Army Air Forces.
• The closest airport to Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) is El Paso International Airport (ELP), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) S of BIF.
• In April 1943, the airfield came under the command of the Second Air Force and became headquarters for the XX Bomber Command.
• The 97th experienced two mission changes in 1955.
• What is now Biggs Army Airfield started life in 1915 as an encampment at Fort Bliss, Texas for the 82d Field Artillery.
• By 1966, the introduction of the Titan and Atlas Intercontinental Strategic Ballistic Missiles into the US Strategic Inventory lessened the need for intercontinental strategic bombers.
• In addition to being known as "Biggs Army Airfield", another name for BIF is "Biggs Air Force BaseBiggs Field".
• While in Alaska, the 97th Bombardment Wing had been activated under the Hobson Plan, and the 97th Bomb Group became a subordinate organization under the wing.
• The furthest airport from Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,387 miles (18,325 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• With World War II imminent, a massive construction effort was begun at Biggs Army Airfield between 1942–1945.
• Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) currently has only 1 runway.