Nonstop flight route between Pituffik, Greenland and Phalaborwa, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W)
Arrival Airport:
(23°56'12"S by 31°9'18"E)
Distance from THU to PHW:
7,982.49 miles (12,846.55 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- THU Airport Information
- PHW Airport Information
- Facts about THU
- Facts about PHW
- Map of Nearest Airports to THU
- List of Nearest Airports to THU
- Map of Furthest Airports from THU
- List of Furthest Airports from THU
- Map of Nearest Airports to PHW
- List of Nearest Airports to PHW
- Map of Furthest Airports from PHW
- List of Furthest Airports from PHW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Thule Air Base (THU), Pituffik, Greenland and Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW), Phalaborwa, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,982 miles (or 12,847 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 Thule Air Base and Hendrik Van Eck 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 Thule Air Base and Hendrik Van Eck Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | THU / BGTL |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Pituffik, Greenland |
| GPS Coordinates: | 76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from THU |
| More Information: | THU Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PHW / FAPH |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Phalaborwa, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 23°56'12"S by 31°9'18"E |
| Area Served: | Phalaborwa, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1432 feet (436 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PHW |
| More Information: | PHW Maps & Info |
Facts about Thule Air Base (THU):
- In 1949, Denmark joined NATO and abandoned its attempt to remove the United States bases.
- In addition to being known as "Thule Air Base", another name for THU is "Thule AB".
- The furthest airport from Thule Air Base (THU) is Hobart International Airport (HBA), which is located 9,883 miles (15,905 kilometers) away in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
- The closest airport to Thule Air Base (THU) is Savissivik Heliport (SVR), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) ESE of THU.
- In 1957 construction began on 4 Nike Missile sites around the base, and they and their radar systems were operational by the end of 1958.
- A cluster of huts known as Pituffik stood on the wide plain where the base was built in 1951.
- A delegation from NATO's Parliamentary Assembly visited Thule in early September 2010 and were told by the base commander that, at that time, approximately 600 personnel were serving at Thule, a mix of mostly U.S.
Facts about Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW):
- Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) is Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) SSW of PHW.
- In addition to being known as "Hendrik Van Eck Airport", another name for PHW is "Phalaborwa Airport".
- The furthest airport from Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,944 miles (19,222 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 69.00 miles (111.05 km) ESE | Savissivik Heliport (SVR) | Savissivik, Greenland |     |
| 2 | 92.13 miles (148.27 km) NNW | Siorapaluk Heliport (SRK) | Siorapaluk, Greenland | |
| 3 | 229.06 miles (368.63 km) W | Grise Fiord Airport (YGZ) | Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 4 | 238.65 miles (384.06 km) ESE | Kullorsuaq Heliport (KHQ) | Kullorsuaq, Greenland | |
| 5 | 262.86 miles (423.04 km) ESE | Nuussuaq Heliport (NSQ) | Nuussuaq, Greenland | |
| 6 | 313.53 miles (504.57 km) SE | Tasiusaq Heliport (TQA) | Tasiusaq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland | |
| 7 | 314.36 miles (505.92 km) SW | Pond Inlet Airport (YIO) | Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 8 | 322.94 miles (519.72 km) SE | Innaarsuit Heliport (IUI) | Innaarsuit, Greenland | |
| 9 | 336.81 miles (542.05 km) NW | Eureka Aerodrome (YEU) | Eureka, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 10 | 344.46 miles (554.35 km) SE | Upernavik Airport (JUV) | Upernavik, Greenland | |
| 11 | 345.57 miles (556.13 km) SE | Aappilattoq Heliport (AOQ) | Aappilattoq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland | |
| 12 | 374.63 miles (602.91 km) SE | Kangersuatsiaq Heliport (KGQ) | Kangersuatsiaq, Greenland | |
| 13 | 376.92 miles (606.58 km) WSW | Nanisivik Airport (YSR) | Nanisivik, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 14 | 381.61 miles (614.14 km) WSW | Arctic Bay Airport (YAB) | Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 15 | 417.70 miles (672.23 km) S | Clyde River Airport (YCY) | Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9,882.84 miles (15,904.85 km) SW | Hobart International Airport (HBA) | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 2 | 9,870.98 miles (15,885.76 km) WSW | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 9,835.86 miles (15,829.25 km) WSW | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 9,799.28 miles (15,770.37 km) SW | Launceston Airport (LST) | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 5 | 9,782.86 miles (15,743.95 km) SW | Devonport Airport (DPO) | Devonport, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 6 | 9,779.11 miles (15,737.92 km) SW | Burnie Airport (BWT) | Burnie, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 7 | 9,775.29 miles (15,731.77 km) WSW | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 9,775.14 miles (15,731.52 km) SW | Smithton Airport (SIO) | Smithton, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 9 | 9,772.93 miles (15,727.96 km) SW | St Helens Airport (HLS) | St. Helens, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 10 | 9,772.19 miles (15,726.78 km) SW | George Town Aerodrome (GEE) | George Town, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 11 | 9,741.00 miles (15,676.59 km) WSW | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 9,738.17 miles (15,672.03 km) WSW | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 9,727.70 miles (15,655.17 km) WSW | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 9,723.24 miles (15,648.00 km) SW | King Island Airport (KNS) | Currie, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 15 | 9,710.84 miles (15,628.05 km) WSW | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 29.63 miles (47.68 km) SSW | Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) | Hoedspruit, South Africa | |
| 2 | 65.65 miles (105.65 km) SSE | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 3 | 100.00 miles (160.94 km) S | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 4 | 107.35 miles (172.77 km) W | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 5 | 163.34 miles (262.87 km) SSE | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 6 | 179.36 miles (288.65 km) S | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 7 | 204.15 miles (328.54 km) N | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| 8 | 218.77 miles (352.08 km) WSW | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 9 | 236.04 miles (379.87 km) SW | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 10 | 237.30 miles (381.89 km) SW | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 11 | 245.04 miles (394.36 km) SW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 12 | 246.38 miles (396.51 km) SW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 247.78 miles (398.76 km) SW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 14 | 268.03 miles (431.35 km) WSW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 15 | 268.70 miles (432.43 km) E | Inhambane Airport (INH) | Inhambane, Mozambique | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,943.80 miles (19,221.63 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,930.01 miles (19,199.44 km) ENE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,922.09 miles (19,186.69 km) ENE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,921.16 miles (19,185.21 km) ENE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,913.28 miles (19,172.52 km) ENE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,908.90 miles (19,165.47 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,896.48 miles (19,145.47 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,891.63 miles (19,137.67 km) ENE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,885.19 miles (19,127.31 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,876.35 miles (19,113.09 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,875.07 miles (19,111.02 km) ENE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,830.44 miles (19,039.20 km) ENE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,830.44 miles (19,039.20 km) ENE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,826.92 miles (19,033.54 km) ENE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,821.19 miles (19,024.31 km) ENE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |