Nonstop flight route between Pituffik, Greenland and Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W)
Arrival Airport:
(28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E)
Distance from THU to RCB:
8,318.10 miles (13,386.65 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- THU Airport Information
- RCB Airport Information
- Facts about THU
- Facts about RCB
- 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 RCB
- List of Nearest Airports to RCB
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCB
- List of Furthest Airports from RCB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Thule Air Base (THU), Pituffik, Greenland and Richards Bay Airport (RCB), Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,318 miles (or 13,387 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 Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay 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: | RCB / FARB |
| Airport Name: | Richards Bay Airport |
| Location: | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E |
| Operator/Owner: | uMhlathuze Local Municipality |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 109 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCB |
| More Information: | RCB Maps & Info |
Facts about Thule Air Base (THU):
- 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.
- In 1818, Sir John Ross’s expedition made first contact with nomadic Polar Eskimos in the area.
- The closest airport to Thule Air Base (THU) is Savissivik Heliport (SVR), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) ESE of THU.
- In 1954, the 378 m Globecom Tower, a tower for military radio communication, was built at Northmountain.
- A board of Air Force officers headed by Gordon P.
- In addition to being known as "Thule Air Base", another name for THU is "Thule AB".
- Thule is the location where the fastest recorded sea level surface wind speed in the world was measured when a peak speed of 333 kilometres per hour was recorded on 8 March 1972 prior to the instrument's destruction.
Facts about Richards Bay Airport (RCB):
- Because of Richards Bay Airport's relatively low elevation of 109 feet, planes can take off or land at Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,689 miles (18,812 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hluhluwe Airport (HLW), which is located 52 miles (83 kilometers) NNE of RCB.
| 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 | 51.82 miles (83.40 km) NNE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 2 | 84.75 miles (136.40 km) SW | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) WSW | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 4 | 142.22 miles (228.88 km) W | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 160.19 miles (257.81 km) NNW | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 6 | 180.06 miles (289.77 km) SW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 186.21 miles (299.68 km) WSW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 197.06 miles (317.14 km) N | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 9 | 221.74 miles (356.85 km) WSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 235.81 miles (379.50 km) WSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 239.78 miles (385.89 km) NNW | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 12 | 244.68 miles (393.77 km) W | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 254.51 miles (409.59 km) WSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 273.13 miles (439.56 km) N | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 15 | 274.02 miles (441.00 km) WNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,688.97 miles (18,811.52 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,676.26 miles (18,791.08 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,668.75 miles (18,778.99 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,668.60 miles (18,778.74 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,667.34 miles (18,776.72 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,667.27 miles (18,776.61 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,660.70 miles (18,766.03 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,658.80 miles (18,762.97 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,649.90 miles (18,748.65 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,647.45 miles (18,744.70 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,631.35 miles (18,718.80 km) NE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,629.30 miles (18,715.50 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,625.76 miles (18,709.81 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |