Nonstop flight route between Chania, Greece and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ), Chania, Greece and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,014 miles (or 9,679 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ):

• The closest airport to Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) is Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER), which is located 60 miles (96 kilometers) ESE of CHQ.
• In 1959, this activity was transferred to the military airport of Souda.
• In addition to being known as "Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis"", other names for CHQ include "Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Χανίων, "Δασκαλογιάννης"" and "Kratikos Aerolimenas Chanion Daskalogiannis".
• Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) currently has only 1 runway.
• The airport can be easily reached by car via the main road network.
• Because of Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis"'s relatively low elevation of 490 feet, planes can take off or land at Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,492 miles (18,495 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.

Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (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.
• When operations resumed in 1947 the base was a new United States Air Force asset.
• 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".
• The base experienced one of its worst peacetime tragedies in March 1953 when an RB-36 and its entire crew of 23 crashed in Newfoundland while returning from a routine exercise in Europe.
• 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.
• In October 1960, Ellsworth entered the "Space Age," with the activation of the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron, initially assigned to the 28 BMW.
• Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command.
• An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956.
• Rapid City AAB was reactivated on 11 October 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Force.
• 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.