Nonstop flight route between Fair Isle, Scotland, United Kingdom and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(59°32'4"N by 1°37'42"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from FIE to RCA:
4,015.73 miles (6,462.68 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- FIE Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about FIE
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to FIE
- List of Nearest Airports to FIE
- Map of Furthest Airports from FIE
- List of Furthest Airports from FIE
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCA
- List of Nearest Airports to RCA
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCA
- List of Furthest Airports from RCA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Fair Isle Airport (FIE), Fair Isle, Scotland, United Kingdom and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,016 miles (or 6,463 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 Fair Isle 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 Fair Isle 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:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | FIE / EGEF |
| Airport Name: | Fair Isle Airport |
| Location: | Fair Isle, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 59°32'4"N by 1°37'42"W |
| Airport Type: | Private |
| Elevation: | 237 feet (72 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FIE |
| More Information: | FIE Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RCA / KRCA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCA |
| More Information: | RCA Maps & Info |
Facts about Fair Isle Airport (FIE):
- The furthest airport from Fair Isle Airport (FIE) is Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS), which is located 11,468 miles (18,457 kilometers) away in Stewart Island, New Zealand.
- Because of Fair Isle Airport's relatively low elevation of 237 feet, planes can take off or land at Fair Isle 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 closest airport to Fair Isle Airport (FIE) is Sumburgh Airport (LSI), which is located 27 miles (43 kilometers) NNE of FIE.
- Fair Isle Airport (FIE) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- Ellsworth's population of approximately 8,000 includes military members, family members and civilian employees.
- 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 44th Missile Wing, however, had ably accomplished its deterrence mission.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- An Army Air-Defense Command Post was established at Ellsworth in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions.
- 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.
- When operations resumed in 1947 the base was a new United States Air Force asset.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 26.64 miles (42.88 km) NNE | Sumburgh Airport (LSI) | Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom |     |
| 2 | 38.71 miles (62.30 km) WSW | Sanday Airport (NDY) | Sanday, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 44.27 miles (71.25 km) SW | Stronsay Airport (SOY) | Stronsay, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 46.76 miles (75.26 km) WSW | Eday Airport (EOI) | Eday, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 47.33 miles (76.17 km) NNE | Tingwall Airport (LWK) | Lerwick, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 60.06 miles (96.65 km) SW | Kirkwall Airport (KOI) | Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 63.11 miles (101.56 km) N | Scatsta Airport (SCS) | Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 90.78 miles (146.09 km) SW | Wick Airport (WIC) | Wick, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 140.58 miles (226.24 km) SSW | RAF Lossiemouth (LMO) | Lossiemouth, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 147.66 miles (237.63 km) SSW | Kinloss Barracks (FSS) | Forres, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 162.46 miles (261.45 km) S | Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) | Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 162.94 miles (262.22 km) SSW | Inverness Airport (INV) | Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 191.03 miles (307.43 km) WSW | Stornoway Airport (SYY) | Stornoway, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 219.01 miles (352.46 km) SSW | Dundee Airport (DND) | Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 223.08 miles (359.01 km) SSW | Perth Airport (PSL) | Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,468.47 miles (18,456.67 km) SSE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,440.75 miles (18,412.06 km) SSE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,438.18 miles (18,407.92 km) SSE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,385.80 miles (18,323.62 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,379.12 miles (18,312.87 km) SSE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,357.08 miles (18,277.40 km) SSE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,345.00 miles (18,257.96 km) SSE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,342.71 miles (18,254.27 km) SSE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,328.78 miles (18,231.86 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,322.02 miles (18,220.98 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,321.43 miles (18,220.03 km) SSE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,302.87 miles (18,190.16 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,301.16 miles (18,187.41 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,293.62 miles (18,175.28 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,271.79 miles (18,140.14 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.04 miles (11.33 km) S | Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States | |
| 2 | 41.93 miles (67.49 km) WNW | Black Hills Airport (SPF) | Spearfish, South Dakota, United States | |
| 3 | 82.62 miles (132.96 km) SSE | Pine Ridge Airport (XPR) | Pine Ridge, South Dakota, United States | |
| 4 | 90.44 miles (145.55 km) S | Chadron Municipal Airport (CDR) | Chadron, Nebraska, United States | |
| 5 | 122.78 miles (197.60 km) W | Gillette–Campbell County Airport (GCC) | Gillette, Wyoming, United States | |
| 6 | 138.94 miles (223.59 km) E | Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) | Pierre, South Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 142.03 miles (228.58 km) N | Bowman Municipal Airport (BWM) | Bowman, North Dakota, United States | |
| 8 | 145.26 miles (233.77 km) S | Alliance Municipal Airport (AIA) | Alliance, Nebraska, United States | |
| 9 | 148.71 miles (239.33 km) SW | Converse County Airport (DGW) | Douglas, Wyoming, United States | |
| 10 | 153.78 miles (247.49 km) SSW | Torrington Municipal Airport (TOR) | Torrington, Wyoming, United States | |
| 11 | 154.79 miles (249.12 km) SE | Miller Field (VTN) | Valentine, Nebraska, United States | |
| 12 | 159.20 miles (256.21 km) S | Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) | Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States | |
| 13 | 162.60 miles (261.68 km) NE | Mobridge Municipal Airport (MBG) | Mobridge, South Dakota, United States | |
| 14 | 183.63 miles (295.52 km) N | Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) | Dickinson, North Dakota, United States | |
| 15 | 188.89 miles (303.99 km) SE | Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) | Ainsworth, Nebraska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,579.32 miles (17,025.72 km) SSE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,460.72 miles (16,834.85 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 10,437.71 miles (16,797.83 km) SE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 10,415.77 miles (16,762.51 km) SE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,301.11 miles (16,577.99 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 10,292.17 miles (16,563.61 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,268.77 miles (16,525.95 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,252.53 miles (16,499.80 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,244.09 miles (16,486.22 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,200.19 miles (16,415.58 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,193.03 miles (16,404.05 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,186.88 miles (16,394.16 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,186.40 miles (16,393.38 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,176.73 miles (16,377.83 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,162.30 miles (16,354.60 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |