Nonstop flight route between Annaba, Algeria and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Rabah Bitat Airport (AAE), Annaba, Algeria and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,370 miles (or 8,642 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 Rabah Bitat Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base, 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 Rabah Bitat Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base. 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 Rabah Bitat Airport (AAE):

• In addition to being known as "Rabah Bitat Airport", another name for AAE is "El Mellah Airport".
• During World War II the airport was known as Bone Airfield, and was used by the German Luftwaffe.
• Rabah Bitat Airport, formerly known as Les Salines Airport, and popularly as El Mellah Airport is an international airport located 9 km south of Annaba, a city in Algeria.
• Because of Rabah Bitat Airport's relatively low elevation of 16 feet, planes can take off or land at Rabah Bitat 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 November 1942 the Allies invaded French Morocco and Algeria.
• The furthest airport from Rabah Bitat Airport (AAE) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,905 miles (19,159 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• The closest airport to Rabah Bitat Airport (AAE) is Skikda Airport (SKI), which is located 48 miles (77 kilometers) W of AAE.
• Rabah Bitat Airport (AAE) has 2 runways.

Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):

• The closest airport to Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA) is Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) S of RCA.
• The 740th AC&W Squadron began operations in 1955 with AN/MPS-7 search radar, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept and warning station.
• In 1986, the base and the 28 BMW made extensive preparations to phase out the aging B-52 fleet and become the second home for the advanced B-1B Lancer.
• To provide air defense of the base, the United States Army established the Ellsworth AFB Defense Area in 1957 and constructed Nike-Ajax Surface-to-air missile sites for air defense.
• The furthest airport from Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,579 miles (17,026 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
• In March 1944, heavy bomber operational training ended and the 225th Army Air Force Base Unit began training of replacement personnel for deployed heavy bombardment units in the overseas combat theaters.