Nonstop flight route between Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States and Sion, Switzerland:
Departure Airport:
(47°57'39"N by 97°24'3"W)
Arrival Airport:
(46°13'10"N by 7°19'36"E)
Distance from RDR to SIR:
4,509.33 miles (7,257.05 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RDR Airport Information
- SIR Airport Information
- Facts about RDR
- Facts about SIR
- Map of Nearest Airports to RDR
- List of Nearest Airports to RDR
- Map of Furthest Airports from RDR
- List of Furthest Airports from RDR
- Map of Nearest Airports to SIR
- List of Nearest Airports to SIR
- Map of Furthest Airports from SIR
- List of Furthest Airports from SIR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR), Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States and Sion Airport (SIR), Sion, Switzerland would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,509 miles (or 7,257 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 Grand Forks Air Force Base and Sion 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 Grand Forks Air Force Base and Sion Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RDR / KRDR |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°57'39"N by 97°24'3"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from RDR |
| More Information: | RDR Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SIR / LSGS |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Sion, Switzerland |
| GPS Coordinates: | 46°13'10"N by 7°19'36"E |
| Area Served: | Sion, Switzerland |
| Elevation: | 1585 feet (483 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SIR |
| More Information: | SIR Maps & Info |
Facts about Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR):
- In 1971, the 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was inactivated and the 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron replaced the unit.
- Survey teams selected sites in flat wheatlands close to the Canada-Minnesota border, north-northwest of Grand Forks.
- During the Cold War, GFAFB was a major installation of the Strategic Air Command, with B-52 bombers, KC-135 tankers, and Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles.
- The furthest airport from Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,504 miles (16,904 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR) is Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), which is located only 10 miles (17 kilometers) E of RDR.
- During 1965, the wing’s three missile squadrons were activated and crew training and certification began at Vandenberg AFB in southern California.
- In addition to being known as "Grand Forks Air Force Base", another name for RDR is "Grand Forks AFB".
Facts about Sion Airport (SIR):
- The closest airport to Sion Airport (SIR) is Aosta Valley Airport (AOT), which is located 33 miles (54 kilometers) S of SIR.
- In addition to being known as "Sion Airport", other names for SIR include "Aéroport de Sion" and "LSGS /LSMS".
- The furthest airport from Sion Airport (SIR) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Sion Airport (meaning Sion Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,188 miles (19,615 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- Sion Airport (SIR) has 2 runways.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.44 miles (16.81 km) E | Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |     |
| 2 | 37.05 miles (59.62 km) ESE | Crookston Municipal Airport (CKN) | Crookston, Minnesota, United States | |
| 3 | 56.67 miles (91.20 km) E | Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF) | Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States | |
| 4 | 68.20 miles (109.76 km) N | Pembina Municipal Airport (PMB) | Pembina, North Dakota, United States | |
| 5 | 70.43 miles (113.35 km) W | Devils Lake Regional Airport (DVL) | Devils Lake, North Dakota, United States | |
| 6 | 76.92 miles (123.79 km) SSE | Hector International Airport (FAR) | Fargo, North Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 92.95 miles (149.59 km) SW | Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS) | Jamestown, North Dakota, United States | |
| 8 | 105.78 miles (170.23 km) SE | Detroit Lakes Airport (DTL) | Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, United States | |
| 9 | 115.91 miles (186.54 km) NE | Warroad International Memorial Airport (RRT) | Warroad, Minnesota, United States | |
| 10 | 118.75 miles (191.11 km) ESE | Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI) | Bemidji, Minnesota, United States | |
| 11 | 124.36 miles (200.14 km) SSE | Harry Stern Airport (WAH) | Wahpeton, North Dakota, United States | |
| 12 | 129.78 miles (208.86 km) SSE | Fergus Falls Municipal Airport (FFM) | Fergus Falls, Minnesota, United States | |
| 13 | 134.85 miles (217.03 km) N | Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG) | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| 14 | 138.60 miles (223.05 km) ENE | Baudette International Airport (BDE) | Baudette, Minnesota, United States | |
| 15 | 139.90 miles (225.15 km) NNW | Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport (YPG) | Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,503.85 miles (16,904.27 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,479.86 miles (16,865.66 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,472.61 miles (16,853.99 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,453.90 miles (16,823.87 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,427.01 miles (16,780.60 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,397.22 miles (16,732.65 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,386.62 miles (16,715.61 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,380.61 miles (16,705.93 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,375.61 miles (16,697.88 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,336.89 miles (16,635.57 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,276.91 miles (16,539.04 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,242.01 miles (16,482.88 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,239.13 miles (16,478.24 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,226.99 miles (16,458.70 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,211.16 miles (16,433.23 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 33.31 miles (53.61 km) S | Aosta Valley Airport (AOT) | Aosta, Italy | |
| 2 | 40.64 miles (65.41 km) NW | Lausanne Airport (QLS) | Lausanne, Switzerland | |
| 3 | 42.49 miles (68.38 km) SW | Megève Aerodrome (MVV) | Megève, France | |
| 4 | 48.55 miles (78.14 km) N | Bern Airport (BRN) | Bern, Switzerland | |
| 5 | 50.66 miles (81.53 km) W | Annemasse Aerodrome (QNJ) | Annemasse, France | |
| 6 | 58.20 miles (93.66 km) W | Geneva International Airport (GVA) | Geneva, Switzerland | |
| 7 | 65.86 miles (106.00 km) SSW | Courchevel Airport (CVF) | Courchevel, France | |
| 8 | 66.71 miles (107.36 km) SSW | Méribel Airport (MFX) | Meribel, France | |
| 9 | 71.98 miles (115.84 km) SSE | Turin Airport (TRN) | Turin, Italy | |
| 10 | 75.96 miles (122.25 km) NE | Emmen Swiss Air Base (EML) | Emmen, Lucerne, Switzerland | |
| 11 | 77.30 miles (124.41 km) E | Lugano Airport (LUG) | Lugano, Agno, Switzerland | |
| 12 | 78.50 miles (126.34 km) ESE | Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) | Milano, Italy | |
| 13 | 80.19 miles (129.05 km) WSW | Chambéry Airport (CMF) | Chambéry, France | |
| 14 | 90.13 miles (145.05 km) NW | Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome (QBQ) | Besançon / La Vèze, France | |
| 15 | 91.13 miles (146.66 km) NNW | Montbéliard - Courcelles Aerodrome (XMF) | Montbéliard, France | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,188.10 miles (19,614.80 km) SE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,749.62 miles (18,909.14 km) ESE | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,732.10 miles (18,880.94 km) SE | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,730.83 miles (18,878.89 km) SE | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,727.65 miles (18,873.78 km) ESE | Wellington International Airport (WLG) | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,721.62 miles (18,864.07 km) ESE | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,719.38 miles (18,860.46 km) ESE | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,710.67 miles (18,846.45 km) ESE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,693.26 miles (18,818.43 km) ESE | Woodbourne Airport (BHE) | Blenheim, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,689.24 miles (18,811.97 km) E | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,681.75 miles (18,799.91 km) ESE | Wanganui Airport (WAG) | Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,666.63 miles (18,775.57 km) SE | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,663.50 miles (18,770.54 km) E | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,656.56 miles (18,759.37 km) ESE | Nelson AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū (NSN) | Nelson, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,654.53 miles (18,756.10 km) SE | Whakatane Airport (WHK) | Whakatane, New Zealand | |