Nonstop flight route between Rochester, Kent, England, United Kingdom and Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(51°21'6"N by 0°30'10"E)
Arrival Airport:
(28°34'47"S by 29°45'11"E)
Distance from RCS to LAY:
5,802.41 miles (9,338.05 km)
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- About this route
- RCS Airport Information
- LAY Airport Information
- Facts about RCS
- Facts about LAY
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCS
- List of Nearest Airports to RCS
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCS
- List of Furthest Airports from RCS
- Map of Nearest Airports to LAY
- List of Nearest Airports to LAY
- Map of Furthest Airports from LAY
- List of Furthest Airports from LAY
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Rochester Airport (RCS), Rochester, Kent, England, United Kingdom and Ladysmith Airport (LAY), Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,802 miles (or 9,338 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 Rochester Airport and Ladysmith 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 Rochester Airport and Ladysmith Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RCS / EGTO |
| Airport Name: | Rochester Airport |
| Location: | Rochester, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°21'6"N by 0°30'10"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Rochester Airport Ltd. |
| Airport Type: | Private |
| Elevation: | 426 feet (130 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCS |
| More Information: | RCS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | LAY / FALY |
| Airport Name: | Ladysmith Airport |
| Location: | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°34'47"S by 29°45'11"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Municipal |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 3548 feet (1,081 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LAY |
| More Information: | LAY Maps & Info |
Facts about Rochester Airport (RCS):
- The closest airport to Rochester Airport (RCS) is London Southend Airport (SEN), which is located only 17 miles (28 kilometers) NNE of RCS.
- An invitation to tender was issued and the existing operator became the preferred bidder after the closing date of 12 March 2013.
- Rochester Airport (RCS) has 3 runways.
- Because of Rochester Airport's relatively low elevation of 426 feet, planes can take off or land at Rochester 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.
- Passenger flights to and from the continent expanded in the 1950s and 60's using Douglas DC-3s and de Havilland Doves operated by Channel Airways but with stringent requirement of the Civil Aviation Authority, operators had to re-locate from Rochester.
- Rochester City Council compulsory purchased the land at Rochester Airfield in September 1933 from the landowner as the site for a municipal airport.
- The furthest airport from Rochester Airport (RCS) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,897 miles (19,146 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- The Air Ministry licensed Short Brothers in 1936 to design and build a four-engined high-wing monoplane.
Facts about Ladysmith Airport (LAY):
- The furthest airport from Ladysmith Airport (LAY) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,789 miles (18,972 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Ladysmith Airport (LAY) is Mokhotlong Airport (MKH), which is located 64 miles (102 kilometers) SW of LAY.
- Ladysmith Airport (LAY) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 17.17 miles (27.64 km) NNE | London Southend Airport (SEN) | Southend, Essex (near London) United Kingdom |     |
| 2 | 20.35 miles (32.75 km) W | London Biggin Hill Airport (BQH) | Biggin Hill / London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 22.00 miles (35.40 km) WNW | London City Airport (LCY) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 28.99 miles (46.66 km) SE | Lympne Airport (LYM) | Lympne, Kent, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 29.32 miles (47.19 km) WSW | Redhill Aerodrome (KRH) | Redhill, Surrey, England, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 33.12 miles (53.30 km) WSW | Gatwick Airport (LGW) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 33.25 miles (53.51 km) SE | Lydd International Airport (LYX) | Lydd, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 36.40 miles (58.58 km) E | Manston Airport (MSE) | Manston, Kent, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 38.58 miles (62.09 km) NNW | London Stansted Airport (STN) | Essex (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 42.02 miles (67.63 km) WNW | RAF Northolt (NHT) | Ruislip, England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 42.44 miles (68.31 km) WNW | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | London, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 42.97 miles (69.16 km) N | MDPGA Wethersfield (WXF) | Braintree, England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 43.19 miles (69.51 km) NW | Hatfield Aerodrome (HTF) | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 49.78 miles (80.11 km) SW | Shoreham Airport (ESH) | Lancing, West Sussex, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 51.98 miles (83.65 km) NW | London Luton Airport (LTN) | Luton (near London), England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,896.91 miles (19,146.17 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,836.27 miles (19,048.59 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,818.89 miles (19,020.62 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,798.42 miles (18,987.66 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,787.87 miles (18,970.69 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,787.44 miles (18,970.00 km) ESE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,782.60 miles (18,962.21 km) SE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,778.89 miles (18,956.24 km) SE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,773.33 miles (18,947.28 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,745.16 miles (18,901.95 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,741.82 miles (18,896.59 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,739.96 miles (18,893.58 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,732.44 miles (18,881.48 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,725.19 miles (18,869.81 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,705.11 miles (18,837.50 km) SE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 63.59 miles (102.34 km) SW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 2 | 83.35 miles (134.14 km) SSE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 3 | 104.79 miles (168.64 km) W | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 108.73 miles (174.98 km) SE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 112.17 miles (180.53 km) SW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 117.02 miles (188.33 km) SW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 134.11 miles (215.83 km) SW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 142.22 miles (228.88 km) E | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 146.27 miles (235.40 km) WSW | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 158.42 miles (254.95 km) ENE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 11 | 161.42 miles (259.78 km) SSE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 12 | 165.67 miles (266.61 km) NNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 13 | 170.72 miles (274.75 km) NE | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 14 | 173.30 miles (278.90 km) WSW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 189.05 miles (304.24 km) NNW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,788.69 miles (18,972.01 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,779.63 miles (18,957.44 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,776.10 miles (18,951.74 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,774.16 miles (18,948.63 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,768.02 miles (18,938.75 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,762.72 miles (18,930.22 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,754.11 miles (18,916.36 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,753.63 miles (18,915.58 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,753.04 miles (18,914.64 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,745.58 miles (18,902.64 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,743.32 miles (18,898.99 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,742.27 miles (18,897.31 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,742.27 miles (18,897.31 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,741.74 miles (18,896.45 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,735.27 miles (18,886.04 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |