Nonstop flight route between Yamagata, Honshū, Japan and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(38°24'42"N by 140°22'15"E)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from GAJ to RCA:
5,496.34 miles (8,845.48 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GAJ Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about GAJ
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to GAJ
- List of Nearest Airports to GAJ
- Map of Furthest Airports from GAJ
- List of Furthest Airports from GAJ
- 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 Yamagata Airport (GAJ), Yamagata, Honshū, Japan and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,496 miles (or 8,845 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 Yamagata 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 Yamagata 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: | GAJ / RJSC |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Yamagata, Honshū, Japan |
| GPS Coordinates: | 38°24'42"N by 140°22'15"E |
| Area Served: | Yamagata |
| Airport Type: | Military/Public |
| Elevation: | 345 feet (105 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GAJ |
| More Information: | GAJ 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 Yamagata Airport (GAJ):
- In addition to being known as "Yamagata Airport", another name for GAJ is "山形空港".
- The furthest airport from Yamagata Airport (GAJ) is Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG), which is located 11,606 miles (18,679 kilometers) away in Rio Grande, Brazil.
- The closest airport to Yamagata Airport (GAJ) is Sendai Airport (SDJ), which is located 35 miles (56 kilometers) ESE of GAJ.
- During the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, American troops used Yamagata Airport as a base for transporting fuel and materials to the disaster areas.
- Because of Yamagata Airport's relatively low elevation of 345 feet, planes can take off or land at Yamagata 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.
- Yamagata Airport (GAJ) currently has only 1 runway.
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.
- 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 Titan I's life span was short in western South Dakota.
- 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".
- Air Defense Command deactivated the Ellsworth radar site on 15 August 1962 and the 740th was discontinued.
- Shortly after additional runway improvements, in July 1949, the 28 BMW began conversion from B-29s to the huge B-36 Peacemaker.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 35.08 miles (56.45 km) ESE | Sendai Airport (SDJ) | Natori, Japan |     |
| 2 | 41.94 miles (67.49 km) NW | Shonai Airport (SYO) | Yamagata, Japan | |
| 3 | 75.31 miles (121.20 km) WSW | Niigata Airport (KIJ) | Niigata, Japan | |
| 4 | 81.37 miles (130.96 km) NNE | Hanamaki Airport (HNA) | Morioka, Honshū, Japan | |
| 5 | 81.90 miles (131.80 km) S | Fukushima Airport (FKS) | Sugawa, Fukushima, Japan | |
| 6 | 83.56 miles (134.48 km) N | Akita Airport (AXT) | Akita, Japan | |
| 7 | 122.99 miles (197.93 km) N | Odate-Noshiro Airport (ONJ) | Kitaakita, Akita, Japan | |
| 8 | 133.94 miles (215.56 km) SSW | Utsunomiya Air Field (QUT) | Nikkō / Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan | |
| 9 | 158.99 miles (255.87 km) NNE | JMSDF Hachinohe Air Base (HHE) | Hachinohe, Honshū, Japan | |
| 10 | 161.28 miles (259.56 km) N | Aomori Airport (AOJ) | Aomori, Japan | |
| 11 | 167.18 miles (269.05 km) NNE | Misawa Air Base 三沢飛行場 Misawa Hikōjō (MSJ) | Misawa, Aomori, Japan | |
| 12 | 182.87 miles (294.30 km) S | Narita International Airport (NRT) | Narita (near Tokyo), Japan | |
| 13 | 200.18 miles (322.15 km) S | Tokyo International Airport (HND) | Tokyo, Honshū, Japan | |
| 14 | 205.36 miles (330.49 km) SW | Matsumoto Airport (MMJ) | Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan | |
| 15 | 212.76 miles (342.41 km) SW | Toyama Airport (TOY) | Toyama, Toyama, Japan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,606.38 miles (18,678.60 km) ESE | Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG) | Rio Grande, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,583.62 miles (18,641.98 km) ESE | Pelotas International Airport (PET) | Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 3 | 11,562.82 miles (18,608.50 km) SE | Diomício Freitas/Forquilhinha Airport (CCM) | Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 4 | 11,558.74 miles (18,601.94 km) SE | Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) | Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 5 | 11,546.05 miles (18,581.51 km) ESE | Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport (PDP) | Maldonado/Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay | |
| 6 | 11,538.09 miles (18,568.71 km) ESE | Treinta y Tres Airport (TYT) | Treinta y Tres, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay | |
| 7 | 11,533.46 miles (18,561.26 km) SE | Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) | Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 8 | 11,515.45 miles (18,532.27 km) ESE | Cerro Largo International Airport (MLZ) | Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay | |
| 9 | 11,495.82 miles (18,500.68 km) E | Carrasco/General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport (MVD) | Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| 10 | 11,485.26 miles (18,483.69 km) ESE | Comandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport (BGX) | Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,485.09 miles (18,483.42 km) E | Villa Gesell Airport (VLG) | Villa Gesell, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 12 | 11,483.77 miles (18,481.29 km) SE | Navegantes Airport (NVT) | Navegantes, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,479.30 miles (18,474.10 km) SE | Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo Airport (LAJ) | Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 14 | 11,475.19 miles (18,467.49 km) ESE | Cerro Largo International Airport (VCH) | Vichadero, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| 15 | 11,463.08 miles (18,447.99 km) E | Astor Piazzolla International Airport (MDQ) | Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina | |
| 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 | |