Nonstop flight route between Golmud, Qinghai, China and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(36°24'2"N by 94°47'9"E)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from GOQ to RCA:
6,760.07 miles (10,879.26 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GOQ Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about GOQ
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to GOQ
- List of Nearest Airports to GOQ
- Map of Furthest Airports from GOQ
- List of Furthest Airports from GOQ
- 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 Golmud Airport (GOQ), Golmud, Qinghai, China and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,760 miles (or 10,879 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 Golmud 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 Golmud 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: | GOQ / ZLGM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Golmud, Qinghai, China |
| GPS Coordinates: | 36°24'2"N by 94°47'9"E |
| Area Served: | Golmud |
| Elevation: | 9333 feet (2,845 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GOQ |
| More Information: | GOQ 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 Golmud Airport (GOQ):
- The closest airport to Golmud Airport (GOQ) is Dunhuang Airport (DNH), which is located 260 miles (418 kilometers) N of GOQ.
- Because of Golmud Airport's high elevation of 9,333 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at GOQ. Combined with a high temperature, this could make GOQ a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- Golmud Airport (GOQ) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Golmud Airport", other names for GOQ include "格尔木机场" and "Gé'ěrmù Jīchǎng".
- The furthest airport from Golmud Airport (GOQ) is Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP), which is located 11,763 miles (18,930 kilometers) away in Concepción, Bío Bío Region, Chile.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- 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.
- After the Army closed their facilities, the military housing at the Nike Integrated Fire Control sites was transferred to control of Ellsworth, and was used as Air Force military family housing until about 1990.
- Ellsworth's population of approximately 8,000 includes military members, family members and civilian employees.
- 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.
- An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956.
- 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 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.
- 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 | 259.83 miles (418.15 km) N | Dunhuang Airport (DNH) | Dunhuang, Gansu, China |     |
| 2 | 277.39 miles (446.42 km) SSE | Yushu Batang Airport (YUS) | Yushu County, Qinghai, China | |
| 3 | 307.13 miles (494.28 km) NE | Jiayuguan Airport (JGN) | Jiayuguan, Gansu, China | |
| 4 | 362.45 miles (583.31 km) ENE | Zhangye Ganzhou Airport (YZY) | Zhangye, Gansu, China | |
| 5 | 403.23 miles (648.94 km) E | Xining Caojiabao Airport (XNN) | Xining, Qinghai, China | |
| 6 | 421.64 miles (678.57 km) ENE | Alxa Right Banner Badanjilin Airport (RHT) | Alxa Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, China | |
| 7 | 425.54 miles (684.84 km) SSE | Qamdo Bamda Airport (BPX) | Qamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China | |
| 8 | 440.09 miles (708.26 km) ENE | Jinchang Jinchuan Airport (JIC) | Jinchang, Gansu, China | |
| 9 | 449.03 miles (722.64 km) N | Hami Airport (HMI) | Hami City, Xinjiang, China | |
| 10 | 454.78 miles (731.90 km) ESE | Gannan Xiahe Airport (GXH) | Xiahe, Gansu, China | |
| 11 | 490.80 miles (789.87 km) E | Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport (LHW) | Lanzhou, Gansu, China | |
| 12 | 490.80 miles (789.87 km) E | Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport (ZGC) | Lanzhou, Gansu, China | |
| 13 | 491.07 miles (790.30 km) S | Nyingchi Mainling Airport (LZY) | Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region, China | |
| 14 | 510.78 miles (822.01 km) NE | Ejin Banner Taolai Airport (EJN) | Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia, China | |
| 15 | 522.65 miles (841.12 km) WNW | Qiemo Airport (IQM) | Qiemo, Xinjiang, China | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,762.64 miles (18,930.09 km) W | Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP) | Concepción, Bío Bío Region, Chile | |
| 2 | 11,740.26 miles (18,894.08 km) WSW | Pichoy Airport (ZAL) | Valdivia, Chile | |
| 3 | 11,729.67 miles (18,877.02 km) WSW | Maquehue Airport (ZCO) | Temuco, Araucanía, Chile | |
| 4 | 11,719.13 miles (18,860.07 km) WSW | Victoria Airport (ZIC) | Victoria, Araucanía, Chile | |
| 5 | 11,718.99 miles (18,859.84 km) WSW | Cañal Bajo Carlos Hott Siebert Airport (ZOS) | Osorno, Chile | |
| 6 | 11,717.47 miles (18,857.40 km) SW | Pupelde Airfield (ZUD) | Ancud, Los Lagos Region, Chile | |
| 7 | 11,706.14 miles (18,839.16 km) WSW | Frutillar Airport (FRT) | Frutillar, Chile | |
| 8 | 11,705.01 miles (18,837.35 km) W | General Bernardo O'Higgins Airport (YAI) | Chillán, Ñuble, Chile | |
| 9 | 11,699.18 miles (18,827.95 km) SW | Mocopulli Airport (MHC) | Castro, Los Lagos, Chile | |
| 10 | 11,699.08 miles (18,827.80 km) WSW | El Tepual International Airport (PMC) | Puerto Montt, Chile | |
| 11 | 11,696.61 miles (18,823.83 km) SW | Gamboa Airport (WCA) | Castro, Chile | |
| 12 | 11,685.32 miles (18,805.66 km) WSW | Pucón Airport (ZPC) | Pucón, Chile | |
| 13 | 11,661.11 miles (18,766.68 km) W | La Unión Airport (LUI) | La Unión, Honduras[disambiguation needed] | |
| 14 | 11,648.68 miles (18,746.69 km) WSW | Caviahue Airport (CVH) | Caviahue, Neuquén, Argentina | |
| 15 | 11,633.98 miles (18,723.03 km) SW | Chaitén Airfield (WCH) | Chaitén, Los Lagos, Chile | |
| 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 | |