Nonstop flight route between Istres, France and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE), Istres, France and Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,676 miles (or 7,525 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 Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker 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 Istres-Le Tubé Air Base and Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International 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 main USAAF use of Istres was by the 64th Troop Carrier Group, which operated C-47 Skytrain transports from the airfield from September to November 1944.
• 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.
• 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".
• 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.
• The base also hosts a helicopter squadron and a large repair and training facility.
• Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE) currently has only 1 runway.
• C135FR "GRV 093 Bretagne"
• 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.

Facts about Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE):

• In 1940 the city leased the airport to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
• In addition to being known as "Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport", another name for YXE is "Saskatoon International Airport".
• The furthest airport from Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,134 miles (16,309 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• The airport contains a small historical display on the main floor.
• Air Canada in 1950 began operating the Canadair North Star at the airport, followed by the Vickers Viscount in 1955.
• In 1962, control of RCAF Station Saskatoon was transferred from Training Command to Air Transport Command, but this change would be short-lived.
• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport handled 1,246,405 passengers last year.
• Due to larger aircraft and more frequent flights, in 1972 plans were drafted for a new terminal building.
• The closest airport to Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) is North Battleford Airport (YQW), which is located 77 miles (124 kilometers) WNW of YXE.
• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) has 2 runways.
• In March 2008 work started on the rehabilitation of runway 09/27, taxiway Foxtrot and Alpha at a cost of $16M.
• For international arrivals the airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency.