Nonstop flight route between Mmabatho, South Africa and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from MBD to RCA:
9,323.70 miles (15,005.00 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MBD Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about MBD
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to MBD
- List of Nearest Airports to MBD
- Map of Furthest Airports from MBD
- List of Furthest Airports from MBD
- 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 Mafikeng Airport (MBD), Mmabatho, South Africa and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,324 miles (or 15,005 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 Mafikeng 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 Mafikeng 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: | MBD / FAMM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Mmabatho, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E |
| Area Served: | Mafikeng, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4181 feet (1,274 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MBD |
| More Information: | MBD 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 Mafikeng Airport (MBD):
- The furthest airport from Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is nearly antipodal to Mafikeng Airport (meaning Mafikeng Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Kalaupapa Airport), and is located 12,081 miles (19,443 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- Because of Mafikeng Airport's high elevation of 4,181 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MBD. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MBD a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- In addition to being known as "Mafikeng Airport", another name for MBD is "Mmabatho Airport".
- The closest airport to Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Lobatse Airport (LOQ), which is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) NNE of MBD.
- Mafikeng Airport (MBD) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Titan I's life span was short in western South Dakota.
- Ellsworth AFB was established in 1941 as Rapid City Army Air Base.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 43.45 miles (69.93 km) NNE | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana |     |
| 2 | 89.62 miles (144.23 km) NNE | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 3 | 98.86 miles (159.10 km) NNW | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 4 | 106.67 miles (171.67 km) ENE | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 5 | 148.34 miles (238.73 km) E | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 161.80 miles (260.39 km) E | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 164.61 miles (264.91 km) E | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 8 | 167.13 miles (268.97 km) E | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 9 | 169.37 miles (272.57 km) E | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 10 | 174.18 miles (280.31 km) SW | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 11 | 183.09 miles (294.65 km) ESE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 12 | 212.36 miles (341.75 km) SSW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 13 | 231.79 miles (373.03 km) SSE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 14 | 260.86 miles (419.81 km) SE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 268.46 miles (432.05 km) WNW | Hukuntsi Airport (HUK) | Hukuntsi, Botswana | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,081.43 miles (19,443.13 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,076.67 miles (19,435.46 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,075.25 miles (19,433.18 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,074.28 miles (19,431.63 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,073.76 miles (19,430.79 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,061.80 miles (19,411.53 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,060.85 miles (19,410.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,055.41 miles (19,401.25 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,050.73 miles (19,393.72 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,043.61 miles (19,382.26 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,035.62 miles (19,369.41 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 12,030.37 miles (19,360.96 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 12,028.29 miles (19,357.61 km) N | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, 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 | |