Nonstop flight route between Mineral Wells, Texas, United States and Lompoc, California, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from MWL to VBG:
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- MWL Airport Information
- VBG Airport Information
- Facts about MWL
- Facts about VBG
- Map of Nearest Airports to MWL
- List of Nearest Airports to MWL
- Map of Furthest Airports from MWL
- List of Furthest Airports from MWL
- Map of Nearest Airports to VBG
- List of Nearest Airports to VBG
- Map of Furthest Airports from VBG
- List of Furthest Airports from VBG
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Mineral Wells Airport (MWL), Mineral Wells, Texas, United States and Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG), Lompoc, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,297 miles (or 2,088 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 relatively short distance between Mineral Wells Airport and Vandenberg Air Force Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | MWL / KMWL |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Mineral Wells, Texas, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 32°46'54"N by 98°3'37"W |
Area Served: | Mineral Wells, Texas |
Operator/Owner: | City of Mineral Wells |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 974 feet (297 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from MWL |
More Information: | MWL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | VBG / KVBG |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Lompoc, California, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 34°43'57"N by 120°34'5"W |
View all routes: | Routes from VBG |
More Information: | VBG Maps & Info |
Facts about Mineral Wells Airport (MWL):
- The Vietnam War increased the need for pilots, and the base became the home for training not just army personnel, but also helicopter pilots for the Marine Corps in 1968 and for the Air Force in 1970.
- Because of Mineral Wells Airport's relatively low elevation of 974 feet, planes can take off or land at Mineral Wells 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.
- Local businessmen purchased the land and facilities and converted them to private use.
- In addition to being known as "Mineral Wells Airport", other names for MWL include "(former Wolters Air Force Base)" and "(former Wolters Army Airfield)".
- A portion of the land was transferred by the United States government to the state of Texas for development as part of Lake Mineral Wells State Park.
- The furthest airport from Mineral Wells Airport (MWL) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,980 miles (17,670 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- The closest airport to Mineral Wells Airport (MWL) is Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (FWH), which is located 36 miles (58 kilometers) E of MWL.
- Mineral Wells Airport (MWL) has 2 runways.
- Mineral Wells donated 50 acres of land, leased 2,300 acres, and in World War II provided land to increase the camp's area to 7,500 acres.
Facts about Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG):
- With the establishment of a separate Air Force in September 1947, Vandenberg became its first vice chief of staff under General Carl Spaatz, and succeeded him on 30 April 1948.
- In addition to being known as "Vandenberg Air Force Base", another name for VBG is "Vandenberg AFB".
- Joint Functional Component Command for Space
- The base is named in honor of former Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt S.
- The furthest airport from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,479 miles (18,473 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- The closest airport to Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) is Lompoc Airport (LPC), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SE of VBG.
- 21st Space Operations Squadron
- As the war progressed, German and Italian prisoners of war were quartered at Camp Cooke.