Nonstop flight route between Istres, France and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE), Istres, France and Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF), Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,062 miles (or 8,146 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 Istres-Le Tubé Air Base and Western Nebraska Regional 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 Istres-Le Tubé Air Base and Western Nebraska Regional Airport. 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 Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE):

• The closest airport to Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE) is Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), which is located only 15 miles (24 kilometers) ESE of QIE.
• Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE) currently has only 1 runway.
• C135FR "GRV 093 Bretagne"
• Sometime after World War II, until May 1958 Base Aérienne 125 was host to the Royal Air Force Liaison Party, that serviced transient British and Commonwealth military aircraft staging to and from the United Kingdom.
• The furthest airport from Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (meaning Istres-Le Tubé Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,364 miles (19,898 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• Because of Istres-Le Tubé Air Base's relatively low elevation of 162 feet, planes can take off or land at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base 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.
• Secondary users occasionally include the United States Air Force, during Allied operations engaging United States and France.
• Mirage 2000 "escadron Limousin"
• In addition to being known as "Istres-Le Tubé Air Base", another name for QIE is "Base aérienne 125 Istres (BA 125)Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Y-17".

Facts about Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF):

• In addition to being known as "Western Nebraska Regional Airport", other names for BFF include "William B. Heilig Field" and "(former Scottsbluff Army Airfield)".
• The closest airport to Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) is Torrington Municipal Airport (TOR), which is located 32 miles (51 kilometers) WNW of BFF.
• The furthest airport from Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,729 miles (17,266 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• Construction began on September 7, 1942.
• Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) has 2 runways.
• Western Airlines DC-3s were at Scottsbluff by 1945 and United appeared in 1953-54.
• The base was occupied as early as 11 October 1942 and was assigned to Second Air Force.