Nonstop flight route between Ratmalana, Sri Lanka and Spokane, Washington, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from RML to SKA:
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- RML Airport Information
- SKA Airport Information
- Facts about RML
- Facts about SKA
- Map of Nearest Airports to RML
- List of Nearest Airports to RML
- Map of Furthest Airports from RML
- List of Furthest Airports from RML
- Map of Nearest Airports to SKA
- List of Nearest Airports to SKA
- Map of Furthest Airports from SKA
- List of Furthest Airports from SKA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ratmalana Airport (RML), Ratmalana, Sri Lanka and Fairchild Air Force Base (SKA), Spokane, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,526 miles (or 13,721 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 Ratmalana Airport and Fairchild 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 Ratmalana Airport and Fairchild 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: | RML / VCCC |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Ratmalana, Sri Lanka |
| GPS Coordinates: | 6°49'19"N by 79°53'10"E |
| Area Served: | Colombo |
| Operator/Owner: | Sri Lankan Government |
| Airport Type: | Public / Military |
| Elevation: | 16 feet (5 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RML |
| More Information: | RML Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SKA / KSKA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Spokane, Washington, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°36'54"N by 117°39'20"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from SKA |
| More Information: | SKA Maps & Info |
Facts about Ratmalana Airport (RML):
- In addition to being known as "Ratmalana Airport", another name for RML is "රත්මලාන ගුවන්තොටුපළஇரத்மலானை விமான நிலைய".
- Ratmalana Airport (RML) currently has only 1 runway.
- In the 1950s, BOAC flew Canadair Argonauts from Ratmalana to London.
- Ratmalana airport was declared open for small international commercial flights.
- Because of Ratmalana Airport's relatively low elevation of 16 feet, planes can take off or land at Ratmalana 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 Ratmalana Airport (RML) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,628 miles (18,713 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
- The closest airport to Ratmalana Airport (RML) is Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), which is located 25 miles (40 kilometers) N of RML.
Facts about Fairchild Air Force Base (SKA):
- In late 1974, the Air Force announced plans to convert the 141st Fighter Interceptor Group of the Washington Air National Guard, an F-101 Voodoo unit at Geiger Field, to an air refueling mission with KC-135 aircraft.
- Fairchild AFB is named in honor of General Muir S.
- The closest airport to Fairchild Air Force Base (SKA) is Spokane International Airport (GEG), which is located only 6 miles (9 kilometers) E of SKA.
- In addition to being known as "Fairchild Air Force Base", another name for SKA is "Fairchild AFB".
- With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, both groups deployed to Japan and Guam.
- The furthest airport from Fairchild Air Force Base (SKA) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,665 miles (17,163 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- On 1 September 1991, under Air Force reorganization, the 92d Bombardment Wing was re-designated the 92d Wing, emphasizing a dual bombing and refueling role.
- Since 1942, Fairchild Air Force Base/Station has been a key part of the United States' defense strategy—from World War II repair depot, to Strategic Air Command bomber wing during the Cold War, to Air Mobility Command air refueling wing during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
- Since 1994, the 92 ARW has been involved in many contingency missions around the world.
