Nonstop flight route between Johannesburg, South Africa and Galena, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(26°14'32"S by 28°9'3"E)
Arrival Airport:
(64°44'9"N by 156°56'15"W)
Distance from QRA to GAL:
9,767.57 miles (15,719.33 km)
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- About this route
- QRA Airport Information
- GAL Airport Information
- Facts about QRA
- Facts about GAL
- 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 GAL
- List of Nearest Airports to GAL
- Map of Furthest Airports from GAL
- List of Furthest Airports from GAL
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Rand Airport (QRA), Johannesburg, South Africa and Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL), Galena, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,768 miles (or 15,719 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 Edward G. Pitka Sr. 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 Rand Airport and Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport. 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: | GAL / PAGA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Galena, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 64°44'9"N by 156°56'15"W |
| Area Served: | Galena, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 153 feet (47 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GAL |
| More Information: | GAL Maps & Info |
Facts about Rand Airport (QRA):
- de Havilland DH 104 Dove and Lockheed L18-08 Lodestar on view at the South African Airways Museum Society at Rand Airport.
- 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.
- South African Airways donated two Boeing 747s to the "South African Airways Museum Society" which are on display at the airport.
- Rand Airport is notorious for its hot and high conditions and relatively short runways.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rand Airport (QRA) has 2 runways.
Facts about Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL):
- In addition to being known as "Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport", another name for GAL is "(former Galena Air Force Base)".
- Because of Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport's relatively low elevation of 153 feet, planes can take off or land at Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport 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 Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) is George Airport (GRJ), which is located 10,313 miles (16,598 kilometers) away in George, South Africa.
- Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) has 2 runways.
- As Galena Air Force Base, it was used by the USAF during the Cold War as an interceptor base for aircraft patrolling the western areas of Alaska.
- The closest airport to Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) is Koyukuk Airport (KYU), which is located 25 miles (41 kilometers) WNW of GAL.
| 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 | 25.24 miles (40.63 km) WNW | Koyukuk Airport (KYU) | Koyukuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 33.53 miles (53.95 km) W | Nulato Airport (NUL) | Nulato, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 43.28 miles (69.66 km) E | Ruby Airport (RBY) | Ruby, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 60.86 miles (97.94 km) WSW | Kaltag Airport (KAL) | Kaltag, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 68.58 miles (110.37 km) NNE | Huslia Airport (HSL) | Huslia, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 83.93 miles (135.07 km) SSE | Bear Creek 3 Airport (BCC) | Bear Creek, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 118.39 miles (190.53 km) NE | Hughes Airport (HUS) | Hughes, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 123.53 miles (198.81 km) SSE | Takotna Airport (TCT) | Takotna, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 124.64 miles (200.60 km) W | Koyuk Alfred Adams Airport (KKA) | Koyuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 127.30 miles (204.87 km) NE | Indian Mountain LRRS Airport (UTO) | Utopia Creek, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 127.43 miles (205.08 km) WNW | Haycock Airport (HAY) | Haycock, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 129.61 miles (208.58 km) WSW | Unalakleet Airport (UNK) | Unalakleet, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 129.70 miles (208.73 km) W | Shaktoolik Airport (SKK) | Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 129.70 miles (208.73 km) SSE | McGrath Airport (MCG) | McGrath, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 130.57 miles (210.14 km) SSE | Tatalina LRRS Airport (TLJ) | Takotna, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,313.41 miles (16,597.78 km) S | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,309.38 miles (16,591.29 km) S | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,302.73 miles (16,580.59 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,276.31 miles (16,538.08 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,237.19 miles (16,475.12 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,131.03 miles (16,304.27 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,076.40 miles (16,216.36 km) SE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 8 | 10,075.25 miles (16,214.50 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,017.04 miles (16,120.83 km) S | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 10,016.20 miles (16,119.47 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,015.87 miles (16,118.95 km) S | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,008.98 miles (16,107.85 km) S | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 10,001.06 miles (16,095.11 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 14 | 9,991.80 miles (16,080.21 km) S | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,991.52 miles (16,079.76 km) S | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |