Nonstop flight route between Palm Springs, California, United States and St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield (PSP), Palm Springs, California, United States and MoD St Athan (DGX), St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,291 miles (or 8,515 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 Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield and MoD St Athan, 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 Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield and MoD St Athan. 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 Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield (PSP):

• The closest airport to Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield (PSP) is Bermuda Dunes Airport (UDD), which is located only 14 miles (23 kilometers) ESE of PSP.
• The main building is the land side of the airport.
• Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield (PSP) has 2 runways.
• Because of Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield's relatively low elevation of 477 feet, planes can take off or land at Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield 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 furthest airport from Palm Springs International AirportPalm Springs Army Airfield (PSP) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,464 miles (18,450 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• PSP was built as a United States Army Air Corps emergency landing field in 1939 on land owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians due to its clear weather and its proximity to March Field and the Los Angeles area.
• In March 1941 the War Department certified improvements to the existing airport in Palm Springs as essential to National Defense.
• Western Airlines flights began in 1945–46 and Bonanza Airlines in 1957–58.

Facts about MoD St Athan (DGX):

• On 26 August 1993 an ATC civilian instructor was seriously injured and the RAF Volunteer Reserve pilot, Group Captain Roger Sweatman, was killed when their Chipmunk trainer, on an air experience flight, crashed after encountering difficulties during a simulated emergency low-height manoeuvre on take-off.
• MoD St Athan (DGX) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from MoD St Athan (DGX) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,960 miles (19,248 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
• Because of MoD St Athan's relatively low elevation of 163 feet, planes can take off or land at MoD St Athan 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.
• St Athan also became the major RAF maintenance base for Vulcan, Victor, Buccaner, Phantom, Harrier, Tornado, Jaguar, Hawk and VC10 aircraft, originally under direct RAF control, but latterly under the auspices of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency.
• RAF St Athan has been used to house a number of army units throughout its life and, in 2003, the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards moved from Aldershot to St Athan - the first time they have been based in Wales since they were formed in 1915.
• The closest airport to MoD St Athan (DGX) is Cardiff Airport (CWL), which is located only 4 miles (6 kilometers) E of DGX.
• After the war, airmen of the Airframe and Engine trades continued to train at St Athan, but in 1955 this training dispersed to RAF Kirkham and RAF Weeton.