Nonstop flight route between Gaborone, Botswana and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(24°33'19"S by 25°55'5"E)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from GBE to RCA:
9,288.66 miles (14,948.61 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GBE Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about GBE
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to GBE
- List of Nearest Airports to GBE
- Map of Furthest Airports from GBE
- List of Furthest Airports from GBE
- 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 Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE), Gaborone, Botswana and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,289 miles (or 14,949 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 Sir Seretse Khama International 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 Sir Seretse Khama International 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: | GBE / FBSK |
| Airport Name: | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport |
| Location: | Gaborone, Botswana |
| GPS Coordinates: | 24°33'19"S by 25°55'5"E |
| Area Served: | Gaborone |
| Operator/Owner: | Civil Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 3299 feet (1,006 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GBE |
| More Information: | GBE 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 Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE):
- Air Botswana plane at Khama Airport 2011
- The government of Botswana has started a $61 million expansion plan to further develop the airport to accommodate increased traffic and larger planes.
- The closest airport to Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) is Lobatse Airport (LOQ), which is located 46 miles (74 kilometers) SSW of GBE.
- Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is nearly antipodal to Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (meaning Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Hana Airport), and is located 12,149 miles (19,552 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- 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 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.
- 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 addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- Ellsworth's population of approximately 8,000 includes military members, family members and civilian employees.
- The airfield was again temporarily shut down from September 1946 – March 1947 and underwent a major construction program to upgrade the temporary wartime facilities to that of a permanent base.
- Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command.
- When operations resumed in 1947 the base was a new United States Air Force asset.
- An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956.
- Ellsworth AFB is 10 miles east of Rapid City, S.D.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 46.19 miles (74.33 km) SSW | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana |     |
| 2 | 76.68 miles (123.40 km) W | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 3 | 89.62 miles (144.23 km) SSW | Mafikeng Airport (MBD) | Mmabatho, South Africa | |
| 4 | 95.25 miles (153.30 km) SE | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 5 | 157.73 miles (253.83 km) SE | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 163.01 miles (262.33 km) ESE | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 7 | 170.42 miles (274.27 km) SE | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 8 | 181.68 miles (292.39 km) SE | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 9 | 181.93 miles (292.80 km) SE | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 10 | 204.90 miles (329.75 km) SE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 11 | 228.43 miles (367.63 km) ENE | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 12 | 253.79 miles (408.44 km) SW | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 13 | 254.68 miles (409.87 km) NNE | Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) | Francistown, Botswana | |
| 14 | 264.92 miles (426.35 km) W | Hukuntsi Airport (HUK) | Hukuntsi, Botswana | |
| 15 | 301.93 miles (485.90 km) SSW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,149.30 miles (19,552.35 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,143.15 miles (19,542.46 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,141.40 miles (19,539.64 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,138.72 miles (19,535.33 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,133.33 miles (19,526.66 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,119.38 miles (19,504.21 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,118.53 miles (19,502.83 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,107.66 miles (19,485.34 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,106.22 miles (19,483.03 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,105.57 miles (19,481.98 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,105.57 miles (19,481.98 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,104.09 miles (19,479.60 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,098.05 miles (19,469.87 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 12,097.06 miles (19,468.28 km) N | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 12,094.63 miles (19,464.38 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 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 | |