Nonstop flight route between Valence, France and Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar:
Departure Airport:
(44°54'56"N by 4°58'6"E)
Arrival Airport:
(17°5'38"S by 49°48'56"E)
Distance from VAF to SMS:
5,126.43 miles (8,250.17 km)
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- About this route
- VAF Airport Information
- SMS Airport Information
- Facts about VAF
- Facts about SMS
- 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 SMS
- List of Nearest Airports to SMS
- Map of Furthest Airports from SMS
- List of Furthest Airports from SMS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF), Valence, France and Sainte Marie Airport (SMS), Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,126 miles (or 8,250 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 Sainte Marie 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 Valence - Chabeuil Airport and Sainte Marie Airport. 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: | SMS / FMMS |
| Airport Name: | Sainte Marie Airport |
| Location: | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar |
| GPS Coordinates: | 17°5'38"S by 49°48'56"E |
| Area Served: | Sainte Marie, Analanjirofo, Madagascar |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 7 feet (2 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SMS |
| More Information: | SMS Maps & Info |
Facts about Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF):
- 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.
- The closest airport to Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF) is Grenoble–Isère Airport (GNB), which is located 36 miles (57 kilometers) NNE of VAF.
- Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF) has 3 runways.
- The Portez was a heavy twin-engined fighter.
- 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.
- 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".
- 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.
Facts about Sainte Marie Airport (SMS):
- The closest airport to Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) is Toamasino Airport (TMM), which is located 76 miles (122 kilometers) SSW of SMS.
- Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Sainte Marie Airport's relatively low elevation of 7 feet, planes can take off or land at Sainte Marie 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 Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) is Guerrero Negro Airport (GUB), which is located 11,161 miles (17,962 kilometers) away in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
| 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 | 75.51 miles (121.52 km) SSW | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 109.66 miles (176.48 km) NW | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 147.27 miles (237.02 km) W | Tsaratanana Airport (TTS) | Tsaratanana, Madagascar. | |
| 4 | 148.54 miles (239.05 km) NNE | Antsirabato Airport (ANM) | Antalaha, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 179.31 miles (288.56 km) NW | Port Bergé Airport (WPB) | Port Bergé, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 193.49 miles (311.40 km) SW | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 218.14 miles (351.06 km) NW | Analalava Airport (HVA) | Analalava, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 249.90 miles (402.17 km) WNW | Amborovy Airport (MJN) | Mahajanga, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 255.83 miles (411.71 km) NNW | Ambanja Airport (IVA) | Ambanja, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 272.99 miles (439.33 km) WSW | Tsiroanomandidy Airport (WTS) | Tsiroanomandidy, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 275.44 miles (443.27 km) NNW | Ambilobe Airport (AMB) | Ambilobe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 279.38 miles (449.62 km) W | Ambatomainty Airport (AMY) | Ambatomainty, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 299.34 miles (481.74 km) SSW | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 302.75 miles (487.22 km) WNW | Soalala Airport (DWB) | Soalala, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 320.40 miles (515.63 km) WSW | Ankavandra Airport (JVA) | Ankavandra, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,160.95 miles (17,961.77 km) NW | Guerrero Negro Airport (GUB) | Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 2 | 11,121.21 miles (17,897.80 km) WNW | Ciudad Constitución Airport (CUA) | Ciudad Constitución, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 3 | 11,112.23 miles (17,883.35 km) NW | Ensenada Airport (ESE) | Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 4 | 11,103.17 miles (17,868.77 km) NNW | Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 5 | 11,101.15 miles (17,865.52 km) NW | Bahía de los Ángeles Airport (BHL) | Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California, México | |
| 6 | 11,093.48 miles (17,853.19 km) NNW | Catalina AirportBuffalo Springs Airport (CIB) | Avalon, California, United States | |
| 7 | 11,092.50 miles (17,851.61 km) NW | Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach (NRS) | Imperial Beach, California, United States | |
| 8 | 11,089.23 miles (17,846.34 km) NW | NAS North Island (NZY) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 9 | 11,088.31 miles (17,844.86 km) NW | Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 10 | 11,087.06 miles (17,842.84 km) NW | Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 11 | 11,086.45 miles (17,841.87 km) NW | San Diego International Airport (SAN) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 12 | 11,082.62 miles (17,835.71 km) NNW | Lompoc Airport (LPC) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 13 | 11,081.44 miles (17,833.81 km) WNW | Loreto International Airport (LTO) | Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 14 | 11,081.30 miles (17,833.57 km) NNW | Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 15 | 11,080.22 miles (17,831.85 km) NW | Montgomery Field (MYF) | San Diego, California, United States | |