Nonstop flight route between Santa Maria, California, United States and Mafeteng, Lesotho:
Departure Airport:
(34°53'56"N by 120°27'26"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°48'2"S by 27°14'35"E)
Distance from SMX to MFC:
10,527.42 miles (16,942.19 km)
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- About this route
- SMX Airport Information
- MFC Airport Information
- Facts about SMX
- Facts about MFC
- Map of Nearest Airports to SMX
- List of Nearest Airports to SMX
- Map of Furthest Airports from SMX
- List of Furthest Airports from SMX
- Map of Nearest Airports to MFC
- List of Nearest Airports to MFC
- Map of Furthest Airports from MFC
- List of Furthest Airports from MFC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, United States and Mafeteng Airport (MFC), Mafeteng, Lesotho would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,527 miles (or 16,942 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 Santa Maria Public Airport and Mafeteng 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 Santa Maria Public Airport and Mafeteng Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SMX / KSMX |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Santa Maria, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°53'56"N by 120°27'26"W |
| Area Served: | Santa Maria, California |
| Operator/Owner: | Santa Maria Public Airport District |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 261 feet (80 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SMX |
| More Information: | SMX Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MFC / FXMF |
| Airport Name: | Mafeteng Airport |
| Location: | Mafeteng, Lesotho |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°48'2"S by 27°14'35"E |
| Area Served: | Mafeteng |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5350 feet (1,631 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MFC |
| More Information: | MFC Maps & Info |
Facts about Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX):
- The first airline to serve Santa Maria was Southwest Airways operating Douglas DC-3 prop aircraft.
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Public Airport", another name for SMX is "Capt. G. Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria Army Airfield".
- The original Allan Hancock Field was established in 1927 at another location, between Jones Street to the north, Stowell Road to the south, Bradley Road to the east and Miller Street to the west.
- The furthest airport from Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,466 miles (18,453 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- Allegiant Air has expanded flights between Las Vegas and Santa Maria with four nonstops per week each way.
- Because of Santa Maria Public Airport's relatively low elevation of 261 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Maria Public 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 closest airport to Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) SSW of SMX.
- Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) has 2 runways.
Facts about Mafeteng Airport (MFC):
- The closest airport to Mafeteng Airport (MFC) is Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) NE of MFC.
- Because of Mafeteng Airport's high elevation of 5,350 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MFC. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MFC a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The furthest airport from Mafeteng Airport (MFC) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,788 miles (18,971 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- Mafeteng Airport (MFC) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 13.10 miles (21.08 km) SSW | Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) | Lompoc, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 16.13 miles (25.95 km) S | Lompoc Airport (LPC) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 3 | 25.58 miles (41.17 km) NNW | San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) | San Luis Obispo, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.61 miles (47.66 km) SE | Santa Ynez Airport (SQA) | Santa Ynez, California, United States | |
| 5 | 33.64 miles (54.14 km) NNW | O'Sullivan Army Heliport (CSL) | Camp San Luis Obispo, California, United States | |
| 6 | 47.93 miles (77.14 km) SE | Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 7 | 54.32 miles (87.42 km) N | Paso Robles Municipal AirportEstrella Army Airfield (PRB) | Paso Robles, California, United States | |
| 8 | 65.32 miles (105.13 km) NNW | Roberts Army Heliport (SYL) | Camp Roberts, San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | |
| 9 | 65.65 miles (105.65 km) SSE | Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 10 | 82.86 miles (133.35 km) ENE | Shafter Airport (MIT) | Shafter, California, United States | |
| 11 | 85.96 miles (138.33 km) SE | Oxnard Airport (OXR) | Oxnard, California, United States | |
| 12 | 87.27 miles (140.45 km) ENE | Meadows Field (BFL) | Bakersfield, California, United States | |
| 13 | 87.83 miles (141.35 km) N | New Coalinga Municipal Airport (CLG) | Coalinga, California, United States | |
| 14 | 88.05 miles (141.70 km) ESE | Santa Paula Airport (SZP) | Santa Paula, California, United States | |
| 15 | 93.18 miles (149.96 km) SE | Naval Air Station Point Mugu (NTD) | Point Mugu, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,466.02 miles (18,452.72 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,438.42 miles (18,408.31 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 3 | 11,430.70 miles (18,395.89 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 4 | 11,422.70 miles (18,383.00 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 11,364.97 miles (18,290.10 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 6 | 11,305.52 miles (18,194.43 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,272.20 miles (18,140.80 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,239.97 miles (18,088.94 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,125.51 miles (17,904.74 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,119.83 miles (17,895.59 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,114.82 miles (17,887.53 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,101.77 miles (17,866.53 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,101.17 miles (17,865.56 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 11,071.72 miles (17,818.17 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 11,068.20 miles (17,812.50 km) SSE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 29.87 miles (48.07 km) NE | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 2 | 49.02 miles (78.90 km) E | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 3 | 66.86 miles (107.59 km) E | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 74.70 miles (120.22 km) NW | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 5 | 81.50 miles (131.17 km) NE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 84.86 miles (136.57 km) E | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 115.67 miles (186.15 km) ENE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 147.60 miles (237.54 km) SE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 9 | 164.58 miles (264.87 km) WNW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 10 | 173.30 miles (278.90 km) ENE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 189.60 miles (305.13 km) E | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | 198.79 miles (319.92 km) ESE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 13 | 226.04 miles (363.78 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 14 | 232.28 miles (373.82 km) E | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 15 | 238.00 miles (383.02 km) NNE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,787.83 miles (18,970.63 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,782.27 miles (18,961.68 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,781.01 miles (18,959.64 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,780.47 miles (18,958.78 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,779.20 miles (18,956.74 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,775.68 miles (18,951.08 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,774.90 miles (18,949.83 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,768.35 miles (18,939.28 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,768.35 miles (18,939.28 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,768.07 miles (18,938.83 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,763.19 miles (18,930.97 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,761.21 miles (18,927.78 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,759.15 miles (18,924.47 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,750.01 miles (18,909.77 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,744.75 miles (18,901.30 km) NE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |