Nonstop flight route between Valence, France and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States:
Departure Airport:
(44°54'56"N by 4°58'6"E)
Arrival Airport:
(31°50'57"N by 106°22'47"W)
Distance from VAF to BIF:
5,607.91 miles (9,025.04 km)
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- About this route
- VAF Airport Information
- BIF Airport Information
- Facts about VAF
- Facts about BIF
- Map of Nearest Airports to VAF
- List of Nearest Airports to VAF
- Map of Furthest Airports from VAF
- List of Furthest Airports from VAF
- Map of Nearest Airports to BIF
- List of Nearest Airports to BIF
- Map of Furthest Airports from BIF
- List of Furthest Airports from BIF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF), Valence, France and Biggs Army Airfield (BIF), Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,608 miles (or 9,025 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 Valence - Chabeuil Airport and Biggs Army Airfield, 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 Valence - Chabeuil Airport and Biggs Army Airfield. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | VAF / LFLU |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Valence, France |
| GPS Coordinates: | 44°54'56"N by 4°58'6"E |
| Area Served: | Valence, Drôme, France |
| Operator/Owner: | Department of Drôme |
| Airport Type: | Public / Military |
| Elevation: | 525 feet (160 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VAF |
| More Information: | VAF Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BIF / KBIF |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 31°50'57"N by 106°22'47"W |
| Operator/Owner: | U.S. Army ATCA-ASO |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 3946 feet (1,203 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BIF |
| More Information: | BIF Maps & Info |
Facts about Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF):
- Used by the French Air Force base after the war, it was closed and today the airport is used for general aviation, with no commercial airline service.
- In addition to being known as "Valence - Chabeuil Airport", other names for VAF include "Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Y-23" and "Aéroport de Valence - Chabeuil".
- The closest airport to Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF) is Grenoble–Isère Airport (GNB), which is located 36 miles (57 kilometers) NNE of VAF.
- Today the airport is a modern, fully equipped facility with two additional parallel grass runways available for use.
- The furthest airport from Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Valence - Chabeuil Airport (meaning Valence - Chabeuil Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,333 miles (19,848 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- After the forceful occupation of Vichy France in November 1942 as a result of Case Anton Wehrmacht units moved into the Valence area and the airport came under the control of the Luftwaffe.
- Because of Valence - Chabeuil Airport's relatively low elevation of 525 feet, planes can take off or land at Valence - Chabeuil 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.
- Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF) has 3 runways.
Facts about Biggs Army Airfield (BIF):
- The closest airport to Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) is El Paso International Airport (ELP), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) S of BIF.
- Biggs Army Airfield, Biggs AAF, Biggs Field, or simply "Biggs" is a military airport located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, in the United States.
- Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Biggs Army Airfield", another name for BIF is "Biggs Air Force BaseBiggs Field".
- Enough construction was completed by the late summer of 1942, to allow the 303d Bombardment Group to began training with B-17Fs under Second Air Force on 7 August.
- The furthest airport from Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,387 miles (18,325 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Prior to the takeover of Biggs by SAC in October 1948, it had previously moved the B-29 Superfortress-equipped 97th Bombardment Group to the base in May.
- Between the two World Wars, Biggs served as a refueling stop for transient aircraft.
- In 1958, the ability of the B-47 to penetrate Soviet airspace became compromised by improvements to the Soviet air defense system.
- A period of organization and continued construction followed, with II Bomber Command taking over training.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 35.57 miles (57.24 km) NNE | Grenoble–Isère Airport (GNB) | Grenoble, France |     |
| 2 | 53.81 miles (86.60 km) S | Orange-Caritat Air Base (BA 115) (XOG) | Orange, France | |
| 3 | 54.17 miles (87.18 km) NW | Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (EBU) | Saint-Étienne / Bouthéon, France | |
| 4 | 55.82 miles (89.84 km) ENE | Alpe d'Huez Airport (AHZ) | Alpe d'Huez, France | |
| 5 | 56.23 miles (90.50 km) N | Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) | Lyon, France | |
| 6 | 56.25 miles (90.53 km) N | Lyon–Bron Airport (LYN) | Lyon, France | |
| 7 | 59.97 miles (96.51 km) WNW | Le Puy - Loudes Airport (LPY) | Le Puy-en-Velay / Loudes, Haute-Loire, France | |
| 8 | 66.88 miles (107.64 km) NE | Chambéry Airport (CMF) | Chambéry, France | |
| 9 | 69.79 miles (112.31 km) S | Avignon - Caumont Airport (AVN) | Avignon, France | |
| 10 | 84.54 miles (136.05 km) SSW | Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes Airport (FNI) | Nîmes-Arles-Camargue, France | |
| 11 | 85.43 miles (137.49 km) ENE | Méribel Airport (MFX) | Meribel, France | |
| 12 | 87.73 miles (141.18 km) ENE | Courchevel Airport (CVF) | Courchevel, France | |
| 13 | 88.51 miles (142.45 km) ESE | Barcelonnette - Saint-Pons Airport (BAE) | Barcelonnette / Saint-Pons, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France | |
| 14 | 90.49 miles (145.63 km) N | Bourg - Ceyzériat Airport (XBK) | Bourg-en-Bresse, France | |
| 15 | 96.13 miles (154.70 km) S | Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE) | Istres, France | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,332.90 miles (19,847.83 km) SE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,892.27 miles (19,138.71 km) ESE | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,877.44 miles (19,114.84 km) SE | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,874.85 miles (19,110.67 km) SE | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,867.99 miles (19,099.63 km) ESE | Wellington International Airport (WLG) | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,865.64 miles (19,095.85 km) ESE | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,861.33 miles (19,088.91 km) ESE | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,843.83 miles (19,060.76 km) ESE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,831.32 miles (19,040.62 km) ESE | Woodbourne Airport (BHE) | Blenheim, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,825.78 miles (19,031.70 km) ESE | Wanganui Airport (WAG) | Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,813.61 miles (19,012.12 km) E | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,811.96 miles (19,009.46 km) SE | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,798.91 miles (18,988.46 km) SE | Whakatane Airport (WHK) | Whakatane, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,794.44 miles (18,981.27 km) ESE | Nelson AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū (NSN) | Nelson, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,788.30 miles (18,971.38 km) SE | Rotorua International Airport (ROT) | Rotorua, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 2.92 miles (4.70 km) S | El Paso International Airport (ELP) | El Paso, Texas, United States | |
| 2 | 14.99 miles (24.13 km) S | Abraham González International Airport (CJS) | Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 3 | 14.99 miles (24.13 km) S | Nuevo Casas Grandes Municipal Airport (NCG) | Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 4 | 43.94 miles (70.72 km) NW | Las Cruces International Airport (LRU) | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | |
| 5 | 71.12 miles (114.46 km) NNE | Holloman Air Force Base Alamogordo Army Airfield (HMN) | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | |
| 6 | 72.12 miles (116.06 km) NNE | Alamogordo–White Sands Regional Airport (ALM) | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | |
| 7 | 73.52 miles (118.32 km) W | Columbus Municipal Airport (CUS) | Columbus, New Mexico, United States | |
| 8 | 83.52 miles (134.41 km) WNW | Deming Municipal AirportDeming Army Airfield (DMN) | Deming, New Mexico, United States | |
| 9 | 108.82 miles (175.13 km) ESE | Culberson County Airport (VHN) | Van Horn, Texas, United States | |
| 10 | 109.03 miles (175.47 km) NNW | Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport (TCS) | Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, United States | |
| 11 | 117.19 miles (188.60 km) WNW | Grant County Airport (SVC) | Silver City, New Mexico, United States | |
| 12 | 128.40 miles (206.64 km) ENE | Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM) | Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 13 | 131.38 miles (211.43 km) ENE | Artesia Municipal Airport (ATS) | Artesia, New Mexico, United States | |
| 14 | 147.17 miles (236.85 km) NE | Roswell International Air Center (ROW) | Roswell, New Mexico, United States | |
| 15 | 171.87 miles (276.59 km) E | Pecos Municipal Airport (PEQ) | Pecos, Texas, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,386.81 miles (18,325.24 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 11,174.71 miles (17,983.90 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,100.93 miles (17,865.18 km) ESE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 11,087.51 miles (17,843.58 km) ESE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,754.87 miles (17,308.24 km) E | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 10,716.40 miles (17,246.34 km) ESE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 10,655.16 miles (17,147.78 km) ESE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 10,653.79 miles (17,145.57 km) ESE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,632.78 miles (17,111.76 km) ESE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 10,617.12 miles (17,086.55 km) E | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,579.17 miles (17,025.49 km) ESE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,563.85 miles (17,000.83 km) ESE | Antsirabato Airport (ANM) | Antalaha, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,526.48 miles (16,940.68 km) ESE | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,503.77 miles (16,904.14 km) ESE | Tsaratanana Airport (TTS) | Tsaratanana, Madagascar. | |
| 15 | 10,500.21 miles (16,898.41 km) ESE | Tsiroanomandidy Airport (WTS) | Tsiroanomandidy, Madagascar | |