Nonstop flight route between Ruislip, England, United Kingdom and Avarua, Cook Islands:
Departure Airport:
(51°33'11"N by 0°25'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(21°12'10"S by 159°48'20"W)
Distance from NHT to RAR:
10,065.09 miles (16,198.15 km)
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- About this route
- NHT Airport Information
- RAR Airport Information
- Facts about NHT
- Facts about RAR
- Map of Nearest Airports to NHT
- List of Nearest Airports to NHT
- Map of Furthest Airports from NHT
- List of Furthest Airports from NHT
- Map of Nearest Airports to RAR
- List of Nearest Airports to RAR
- Map of Furthest Airports from RAR
- List of Furthest Airports from RAR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between RAF Northolt (NHT), Ruislip, England, United Kingdom and Rarotonga International Airport (RAR), Avarua, Cook Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,065 miles (or 16,198 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 RAF Northolt and Rarotonga International Airport, 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 RAF Northolt and Rarotonga International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | NHT / EGWU |
| Airport Name: | RAF Northolt |
| Location: | Ruislip, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°33'11"N by 0°25'5"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Defence |
| View all routes: | Routes from NHT |
| More Information: | NHT Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RAR / NCRG |
| Airport Name: | Rarotonga International Airport |
| Location: | Avarua, Cook Islands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 21°12'10"S by 159°48'20"W |
| Area Served: | Avarua |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 19 feet (6 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RAR |
| More Information: | RAR Maps & Info |
Facts about RAF Northolt (NHT):
- In January 2012, it was reported that the future of station was under review by the Ministry of Defence as part of efforts to reduce defence spending.
- The furthest airport from RAF Northolt (NHT) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,871 miles (19,105 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- On 1 June 1960, an Avro Anson aircraft suffered engine failure soon after take-off from Northolt and crash-landed on top of the nearby Express Dairies plant in South Ruislip.
- The closest airport to RAF Northolt (NHT) is London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which is located only 6 miles (9 kilometers) SSW of NHT.
- Northolt pre-dates the establishment of the Royal Air Force by almost three years, having opened in May 1915.
- Squadrons based at RAF Northolt during the battle shot down a total of 148 Luftwaffe aircraft and damaged 52.
Facts about Rarotonga International Airport (RAR):
- The furthest airport from Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) is Faya-Largeau Airport (FYT), which is nearly antipodal to Rarotonga International Airport (meaning Rarotonga International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Faya-Largeau Airport), and is located 12,199 miles (19,632 kilometers) away in Faya-Largeau, Chad.
- Because of Rarotonga International Airport's relatively low elevation of 19 feet, planes can take off or land at Rarotonga 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 closest airport to Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) is Mangaia Island Airport (MGS), which is located 131 miles (211 kilometers) ESE of RAR.
- The airport first opened in 1975 on the site of a former U.S.
- Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of the close proximity of the runways to the nearby roads, it is possible to get very close to aircraft while they are landing.
- Air New Zealand Airbus A320 awaiting passengers at Rarotonga International
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 5.54 miles (8.91 km) SSW | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | London, England, United Kingdom |     |
| 2 | 16.36 miles (26.33 km) NNE | Hatfield Aerodrome (HTF) | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 18.69 miles (30.08 km) WNW | RAF High Wycombe (HYC) | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 20.62 miles (33.19 km) E | London City Airport (LCY) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 22.33 miles (35.93 km) N | London Luton Airport (LTN) | Luton (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 24.34 miles (39.17 km) SW | Blackbushe Airport (BBS) | Yateley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 24.66 miles (39.68 km) SW | Farnborough Airport (FAB) | Farnborough, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 24.75 miles (39.84 km) SE | London Biggin Hill Airport (BQH) | Biggin Hill / London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 26.37 miles (42.44 km) SSE | Redhill Aerodrome (KRH) | Redhill, Surrey, England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 29.41 miles (47.34 km) W | RAF Benson (BEX) | Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 29.66 miles (47.74 km) SSE | Gatwick Airport (LGW) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 31.57 miles (50.81 km) SW | RAF Odiham (ODH) | Odiham, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 36.17 miles (58.21 km) NE | London Stansted Airport (STN) | Essex (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 36.65 miles (58.98 km) SW | Lasham Airfield (QLA) | Lasham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 36.68 miles (59.02 km) NNW | Milton Keynes Airport (KYN) | Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,871.18 miles (19,104.77 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,859.82 miles (19,086.49 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,837.81 miles (19,051.06 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,828.15 miles (19,035.52 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,815.57 miles (19,015.27 km) ESE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,804.71 miles (18,997.79 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,797.07 miles (18,985.49 km) SE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,796.47 miles (18,984.54 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,790.50 miles (18,974.92 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,767.29 miles (18,937.57 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,765.63 miles (18,934.90 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,750.82 miles (18,911.07 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,746.58 miles (18,904.24 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,743.23 miles (18,898.85 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,722.72 miles (18,865.85 km) SE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 131.09 miles (210.96 km) ESE | Mangaia Island Airport (MGS) | Mangaia Island, Cook Islands | |
| 2 | 165.33 miles (266.08 km) NE | Mitiaro Island Airport (MOI) | Mitiaro Island, Cook Islands | |
| 3 | 175.31 miles (282.13 km) ENE | Akatoka Manava Airport (Mauke Airport) (MUK) | Mauke Island, Cook Islands | |
| 4 | 547.88 miles (881.73 km) E | Rurutu Airport (RUR) | Rurutu, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 594.38 miles (956.57 km) ENE | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 620.67 miles (998.87 km) ENE | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 653.11 miles (1,051.08 km) ENE | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 672.50 miles (1,082.28 km) W | Niue International Airport (IUE) | Alofi, Niue | |
| 9 | 702.99 miles (1,131.35 km) ENE | Moorea Airport (MOZ) | Moorea, Windward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 710.36 miles (1,143.21 km) ENE | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 751.93 miles (1,210.11 km) N | Manihiki Island Airport (MHX) | Manihiki Island, Cook Islands | |
| 12 | 795.64 miles (1,280.46 km) NW | Fitiuta Airport (FTI) | Fiti‘uta, American Samoa, United States | |
| 13 | 799.66 miles (1,286.93 km) NW | Tau Airport (TAV) | Tau, American Samoa | |
| 14 | 809.93 miles (1,303.45 km) NW | Ofu Airport (OFU) | Ofu, American Samoa | |
| 15 | 849.61 miles (1,367.32 km) ENE | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,199.06 miles (19,632.44 km) NNE | Faya-Largeau Airport (FYT) | Faya-Largeau, Chad | |
| 2 | 12,150.79 miles (19,554.75 km) NW | Kufra Airport (AKF) | Kufra, Libya | |
| 3 | 11,926.76 miles (19,194.22 km) N | Abéché Airport (AEH) | Abéché, Chad | |
| 4 | 11,888.24 miles (19,132.23 km) N | Oum-Hadjer Airport (OUM) | Oum Hadjer, Chad | |
| 5 | 11,882.82 miles (19,123.50 km) NNW | Geneina Airport (EGN) | Geneina, Sudan | |
| 6 | 11,882.03 miles (19,122.23 km) WNW | Sharq Al-Owainat Airport (GSQ) | Sharq Al-Owainat, Egypt | |
| 7 | 11,872.80 miles (19,107.38 km) NNE | Ati Airport (ATV) | Ati, Chad | |
| 8 | 11,853.10 miles (19,075.67 km) NE | Mao Airport (AMO) | Mao, Chad | |
| 9 | 11,813.07 miles (19,011.24 km) NNW | El Fashir Airport (ELF) | El Fasher, Sudan | |
| 10 | 11,804.69 miles (18,997.75 km) N | Mongo Airport (MVO) | Mongo, Chad | |
| 11 | 11,801.69 miles (18,992.93 km) N | Marsa Brega Airport (LMQ) | Brega, Libya | |
| 12 | 11,793.59 miles (18,979.89 km) NNE | Bokoro Airport (BKR) | Bokoro, Chad | |
| 13 | 11,791.34 miles (18,976.27 km) NE | Bol-Berim Airport (OTC) | Bol, Chad | |
| 14 | 11,761.42 miles (18,928.12 km) N | Abou-Deïa Airport (AOD) | Abou-Deia, Chad | |
| 15 | 11,758.22 miles (18,922.97 km) W | Dongola Airport (DOG) | Dongola, Sudan | |