Nonstop flight route between Ketaping, West Sumatra, Indonesia and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) (PDG), Ketaping, West Sumatra, Indonesia and Biggs Army Airfield (BIF), Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,675 miles (or 15,570 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 Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) 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 Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) 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 Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) (PDG):

• Because of Minangkabau International Airport (MIA)'s relatively low elevation of 18 feet, planes can take off or land at Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) 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.
• In addition to being known as "Minangkabau International Airport (MIA)", other names for PDG include "Bandar Udara Internasional Minangkabau (MIA)" and "بانداراينتيرنسيونالمينڠكاباو".
• The closest airport to Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) (PDG) is Rokot Airport (RKI), which is located 99 miles (159 kilometers) SSW of PDG.
• There is a plan to lengthen the runway by 250 m to be compatible with Boeing 747, Airbus A340 planes, and also to connect the airport to the city of Padang with a train service.
• This airport suffered minor damage because of a earthquake in September 2009.
• Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) (PDG) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) (PDG) is Carlos Concha Torres International Airport (ESM), which is nearly antipodal to Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) (meaning Minangkabau International Airport (MIA) is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Carlos Concha Torres International Airport), and is located 12,422 miles (19,991 kilometers) away in Esmeraldas, Ecuador.

Facts about Biggs Army Airfield (BIF):

• 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.
• Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• A period of organization and continued construction followed, with II Bomber Command taking over training.
• The 97th Air Refueling Squadron, activated in March 1949, saw its manning increase as it received its first KB-29P in January 1950.
• 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.
• In addition to being known as "Biggs Army Airfield", another name for BIF is "Biggs Air Force BaseBiggs Field".
• After World War II, B-29 Superfortress personnel replacement training ended in October.
• With the inactivation of the 362d, its personnel and aircraft were assigned to the newly reactivated 20th Fighter Group.
• In 1958, the ability of the B-47 to penetrate Soviet airspace became compromised by improvements to the Soviet air defense system.
• Beginning in 1950, the 97th Bomb Wing received its first B-50 Superfortress, an improved version of the B-29 capable of delivering atomic weapons.