Nonstop flight route between Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(39°10'5"N by 77°9'57"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from GAI to RCA:
1,374.67 miles (2,212.31 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GAI Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about GAI
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to GAI
- List of Nearest Airports to GAI
- Map of Furthest Airports from GAI
- List of Furthest Airports from GAI
- 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 Montgomery County Airpark (GAI), Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,375 miles (or 2,212 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 relatively short distance between Montgomery County Airpark and Ellsworth Air Force Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GAI / KGAI |
| Airport Name: | Montgomery County Airpark |
| Location: | Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 39°10'5"N by 77°9'57"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Montgomery County Revenue Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 539 feet (164 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GAI |
| More Information: | GAI 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 Montgomery County Airpark (GAI):
- Because of Montgomery County Airpark's relatively low elevation of 539 feet, planes can take off or land at Montgomery County Airpark 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 Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,667 miles (18,776 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) is College Park Airport (CGS), which is located only 18 miles (30 kilometers) SE of GAI.
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.
- Shortly after additional runway improvements, in July 1949, the 28 BMW began conversion from B-29s to the huge B-36 Peacemaker.
- In October 1960, Ellsworth entered the "Space Age," with the activation of the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron, initially assigned to the 28 BMW.
- 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.
- Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 18.42 miles (29.64 km) SE | College Park Airport (CGS) | College Park, Maryland, United States |     |
| 2 | 20.51 miles (33.01 km) NNW | Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) | Frederick, Maryland, United States | |
| 3 | 21.89 miles (35.23 km) WSW | Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO) | Leesburg, Virginia, United States | |
| 4 | 21.93 miles (35.30 km) SW | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | Washington, D.C. / Virginia, United States | |
| 5 | 22.53 miles (36.27 km) ESE | Tipton Airport (FME) | Odenton, Maryland, United States | |
| 6 | 22.90 miles (36.85 km) SSE | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) | Arlington County, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.), United States | |
| 7 | 23.89 miles (38.45 km) SSE | Bolling Air Force Base (BOF) | Washington, D.C., United States | |
| 8 | 26.66 miles (42.91 km) E | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) | between Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., United States | |
| 9 | 29.46 miles (47.42 km) SSE | Andrews Field (ADW) | Camp Springs, Maryland, United States | |
| 10 | 31.33 miles (50.42 km) S | Davison Army Airfield (DAA) | Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States | |
| 11 | 35.65 miles (57.38 km) ESE | Lee Airport (ANP) | Annapolis, Maryland, United States | |
| 12 | 36.14 miles (58.17 km) SSW | Manassas Regional Airport (HEF) | Manassas, Virginia, United States | |
| 13 | 36.14 miles (58.17 km) SSW | Manassas Regional Airport (MNZ) | Manassas, Virginia, United States | |
| 14 | 41.68 miles (67.08 km) ENE | Martin State Airport (MTN) | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |
| 15 | 46.66 miles (75.10 km) WNW | Eastern WV Regional Airport (MRB) | Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,666.70 miles (18,775.69 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,643.21 miles (18,737.88 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,626.78 miles (18,711.44 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,618.29 miles (18,697.78 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,569.54 miles (18,619.33 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,562.29 miles (18,607.65 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,557.61 miles (18,600.12 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,547.00 miles (18,583.04 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,531.89 miles (18,558.73 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,512.82 miles (18,528.04 km) SW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,450.47 miles (18,427.70 km) SW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,417.88 miles (18,375.26 km) SW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,407.68 miles (18,358.84 km) SW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,401.53 miles (18,348.94 km) SW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,328.35 miles (18,231.17 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 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 | |