Nonstop flight route between Santa Maria, California, United States and Chichester, England, United Kingdom:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, United States and Chichester/Goodwood Airport (QUG), Chichester, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,473 miles (or 8,807 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 Chichester/Goodwood 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 Chichester/Goodwood Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX):

• During its use by the military Santa Maria AAF also controlled Estrella Army Airfield, near Paso Robles as an auxiliary airfield to support the pilot training activity.
• 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.
• At one point during the early 1980's Swift Aire Lines, which was based at the nearby San Luis Obispo Airport, was the only airline flying nonstop between Santa Maria and Los Angeles, primarily with Fokker F27 Friendship turboprops which the carrier had purchased new from the manufacturer.
• 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.
• In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Public Airport", another name for SMX is "Capt. G. Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria Army Airfield".
• Allegiant Air has expanded flights between Las Vegas and Santa Maria with four nonstops per week each way.
• After the war Santa Barbara County and the city of Santa Maria acquired the land and facilities through two grants in 1948.
• 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.
• A 4,000-square-foot baggage claim facility opened in 2007.

Facts about Chichester/Goodwood Airport (QUG):

• Chichester Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee.
• The closest airport to Chichester/Goodwood Airport (QUG) is Bembridge Airport (BBP), which is located only 20 miles (32 kilometers) SW of QUG.
• The furthest airport from Chichester/Goodwood Airport (QUG) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,910 miles (19,167 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• In addition to being known as "Chichester/Goodwood Airport", other names for QUG include "Goodwood Airfield" and "Goodwood Aerodrome".
• Because of Chichester/Goodwood Airport's relatively low elevation of 110 feet, planes can take off or land at Chichester/Goodwood 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 airfield was built during the Second World War by the Royal Air Force as a relief landing ground for nearby RAF Tangmere.
• The 31st FG flew its first sorties with RAF, on 10 September 1942, and flew last mission from Great Britain in late October 1942.
• Chichester/Goodwood Airport (QUG) has 4 runways.