Nonstop flight route between Palo Alto, California, United States and Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(37°27'39"N by 122°6'53"W)
Arrival Airport:
(51°36'59"N by 1°5'44"W)
Distance from PAO to BEX:
5,329.00 miles (8,576.17 km)
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- About this route
- PAO Airport Information
- BEX Airport Information
- Facts about PAO
- Facts about BEX
- Map of Nearest Airports to PAO
- List of Nearest Airports to PAO
- Map of Furthest Airports from PAO
- List of Furthest Airports from PAO
- 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 Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO), Palo Alto, California, United States and RAF Benson (BEX), Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,329 miles (or 8,576 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 Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County 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 Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County 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: | PAO / KPAO |
| Airport Name: | Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County |
| Location: | Palo Alto, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°27'39"N by 122°6'53"W |
| Operator/Owner: | County of Santa Clara |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4 feet (1 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PAO |
| More Information: | PAO 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 Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO):
- Because of Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County's relatively low elevation of 4 feet, planes can take off or land at Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County 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 VOR approach is almost impossible to get from Air Traffic Control if the aircraft is GPS-equipped, because of the conflict with airline traffic in San Jose International Airport.
- In 1989 a comprehensive area history analysis was conducted by Earth Metrics, based upon review of extant aerial photographs.
- Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,365 miles (18,289 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Fifteen miles of hiking and biking trails, affording multiple opportunities for birdwatching, form part of the adjacent 1,940-acre Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve.
- The closest airport to Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO) is Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ), which is located only 5 miles (8 kilometers) SE of PAO.
Facts about RAF Benson (BEX):
- The station retained a reconnaissance role for some years after the war, with Avro Lancaster, Spitfire, Mosquito, Gloster Meteor PR.Mk 10 and English Electric Canberra PR.Mk 3 aircraft.
- 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 closest airport to RAF Benson (BEX) is RAF High Wycombe (HYC), which is located only 13 miles (22 kilometers) ENE of BEX.
- The Battles were replaced in December 1940 with Vickers Wellington medium bombers.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 4.85 miles (7.81 km) SE | Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ) | Mountain View, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 12.25 miles (19.72 km) ESE | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 3 | 13.67 miles (22.00 km) N | Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) | Hayward, California, United States | |
| 4 | 17.94 miles (28.87 km) NW | San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | San Francisco, California, United States | |
| 5 | 18.47 miles (29.73 km) ESE | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 6 | 18.89 miles (30.41 km) NNW | Oakland International Airport (OAK) | Oakland (near San Francisco), California, United States | |
| 7 | 21.47 miles (34.56 km) W | Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF) | Half Moon Bay, California, United States | |
| 8 | 22.76 miles (36.62 km) NE | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 9 | 36.66 miles (59.00 km) N | Buchanan FieldConcord Army Air Base (CCR) | Concord, California, United States | |
| 10 | 40.47 miles (65.13 km) SSE | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 11 | 52.74 miles (84.88 km) N | Napa County Airport (APC) | Napa, California, United States | |
| 12 | 52.95 miles (85.21 km) NNW | Marin County Airport (NOT) | Novato, California, United States | |
| 13 | 55.17 miles (88.79 km) SE | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 14 | 55.29 miles (88.98 km) E | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 15 | 56.33 miles (90.65 km) N | Travis Air Force Base Fairfield-Suisun Army Airfield (SUU) | Fairfield, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,364.54 miles (18,289.40 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,312.01 miles (18,204.87 km) S | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,283.08 miles (18,158.32 km) S | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,263.27 miles (18,126.43 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 11,260.00 miles (18,121.17 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 6 | 11,177.10 miles (17,987.75 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,169.97 miles (17,976.28 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 8 | 11,156.35 miles (17,954.37 km) SSE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,064.70 miles (17,806.86 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,063.42 miles (17,804.81 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,048.60 miles (17,780.95 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,004.18 miles (17,709.47 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,002.17 miles (17,706.24 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,991.14 miles (17,688.48 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,969.47 miles (17,653.61 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| 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 | |