Nonstop flight route between Johannesburg, South Africa and Edwards, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(26°14'32"S by 28°9'3"E)
Arrival Airport:
(34°54'20"N by 117°53'0"W)
Distance from QRA to EDW:
10,340.84 miles (16,641.93 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- QRA Airport Information
- EDW Airport Information
- Facts about QRA
- Facts about EDW
- Map of Nearest Airports to QRA
- List of Nearest Airports to QRA
- Map of Furthest Airports from QRA
- List of Furthest Airports from QRA
- Map of Nearest Airports to EDW
- List of Nearest Airports to EDW
- Map of Furthest Airports from EDW
- List of Furthest Airports from EDW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Rand Airport (QRA), Johannesburg, South Africa and Edwards Air Force Base (EDW), Edwards, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,341 miles (or 16,642 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 Rand Airport and Edwards Air Force Base, 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 Rand Airport and Edwards Air Force Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | QRA / FAGM |
| Airport Name: | Rand Airport |
| Location: | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 26°14'32"S by 28°9'3"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Rand Airport Management Company (Pty) Ltd. |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5482 feet (1,671 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from QRA |
| More Information: | QRA Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | EDW / KEDW |
| Airport Name: | Edwards Air Force Base |
| Location: | Edwards, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°54'20"N by 117°53'0"W |
| Operator/Owner: | United States Air Force |
| View all routes: | Routes from EDW |
| More Information: | EDW Maps & Info |
Facts about Rand Airport (QRA):
- The recently upgraded fire station.
- Rand Airport (QRA) has 2 runways.
- Boeing 747SP at the South African Airways Museum Society situated near the threshold of Runway 29.
- The closest airport to Rand Airport (QRA) is O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) NE of QRA.
- The furthest airport from Rand Airport (QRA) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,977 miles (19,275 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Because of Rand Airport's high elevation of 5,482 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at QRA. Combined with a high temperature, this could make QRA a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- Rand Airport is notorious for its hot and high conditions and relatively short runways.
- Rand Airport is an airport in Germiston, South Africa.
- South African Airways donated two Boeing 747s to the "South African Airways Museum Society" which are on display at the airport.
Facts about Edwards Air Force Base (EDW):
- The furthest airport from Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,414 miles (18,369 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- The North Base is located at the north-west corner of Rogers Lake and is the site of the Air Force's most secret test programs at Edwards.
- The first major aerial activity occurred at Muroc in 1937 when the entire Army Air Corps participated in a large-scale maneuver.
- The closest airport to Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) is Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV), which is located only 19 miles (30 kilometers) NW of EDW.
- The success of these programs attracted a new type of research activity to the base in late 1946.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9.26 miles (14.90 km) NE | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |     |
| 2 | 17.71 miles (28.50 km) N | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 3 | 23.65 miles (38.05 km) SE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 4 | 25.22 miles (40.58 km) NNW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 5 | 40.94 miles (65.89 km) N | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 87.43 miles (140.70 km) NW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 164.61 miles (264.91 km) W | Mafikeng Airport (MBD) | Mmabatho, South Africa | |
| 8 | 168.01 miles (270.39 km) WNW | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 9 | 180.65 miles (290.72 km) S | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 181.68 miles (292.39 km) NW | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 11 | 184.75 miles (297.32 km) NNE | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 12 | 189.05 miles (304.24 km) SSE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 13 | 193.11 miles (310.78 km) ENE | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 14 | 196.36 miles (316.01 km) E | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 15 | 217.41 miles (349.89 km) SSE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,977.24 miles (19,275.45 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,967.32 miles (19,259.48 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,961.61 miles (19,250.29 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,961.15 miles (19,249.56 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,953.31 miles (19,236.94 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,951.72 miles (19,234.39 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,942.40 miles (19,219.39 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,942.08 miles (19,218.86 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,940.28 miles (19,215.97 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,930.76 miles (19,200.65 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,926.00 miles (19,192.98 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,923.92 miles (19,189.64 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,923.92 miles (19,189.64 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,922.58 miles (19,187.48 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,916.37 miles (19,177.49 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 18.53 miles (29.82 km) NW | Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV) | Mojave, California, United States | |
| 2 | 22.14 miles (35.63 km) WSW | General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF) | Lancaster, California, United States | |
| 3 | 22.22 miles (35.77 km) SSW | Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) | Palmdale, California, United States | |
| 4 | 35.21 miles (56.66 km) WNW | Tehachapi Municipal Airport (TSP) | Tehachapi, California, United States | |
| 5 | 35.50 miles (57.14 km) SE | Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) | Victorville, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.70 miles (73.55 km) ESE | Apple Valley Airport (APV) | Apple Valley, California, United States | |
| 7 | 52.12 miles (83.88 km) N | Inyokern Airport (IYK) | Inyokern, California, United States | |
| 8 | 53.87 miles (86.70 km) SW | Whiteman Airport (WHP) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| 9 | 55.71 miles (89.65 km) SSW | Bob Hope Airport (BUR) | Burbank, California, United States | |
| 10 | 55.98 miles (90.09 km) SSE | Cable Airport (CCB) | Upland, California, United States | |
| 11 | 56.53 miles (90.98 km) S | Brackett Field (POC) | La Verne, California, United States | |
| 12 | 57.27 miles (92.16 km) S | San Gabriel Valley (El Monte) Airport (EMT) | El Monte, California, United States | |
| 13 | 59.18 miles (95.24 km) SW | Van Nuys Airport (VNY) | Van Nuys, California, United States | |
| 14 | 60.86 miles (97.94 km) SSE | LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) | Ontario (near Los Angeles), California, United States | |
| 15 | 62.28 miles (100.23 km) E | Barstow-Daggett Airport (DAG) | Daggett, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,414.23 miles (18,369.37 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,400.85 miles (18,347.84 km) SSE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,388.63 miles (18,328.18 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,387.41 miles (18,326.22 km) S | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,304.13 miles (18,192.19 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,181.54 miles (17,994.90 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,174.55 miles (17,983.65 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,135.89 miles (17,921.44 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,037.73 miles (17,763.47 km) SE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,011.33 miles (17,720.97 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,007.64 miles (17,715.04 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,995.36 miles (17,695.27 km) ESE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,991.28 miles (17,688.71 km) SE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,983.71 miles (17,676.52 km) ESE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,967.39 miles (17,650.26 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |