Nonstop flight route between Columbus, Nebraska, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(41°26'53"N by 97°20'34"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from OLU to RCA:
345.13 miles (555.44 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- OLU Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about OLU
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to OLU
- List of Nearest Airports to OLU
- Map of Furthest Airports from OLU
- List of Furthest Airports from OLU
- 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 Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU), Columbus, Nebraska, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 345 miles (or 555 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 Columbus Municipal Airport 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: | OLU / KOLU |
| Airport Name: | Columbus Municipal Airport |
| Location: | Columbus, Nebraska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 41°26'53"N by 97°20'34"W |
| Area Served: | Columbus, Nebraska |
| Operator/Owner: | Columbus Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1447 feet (441 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from OLU |
| More Information: | OLU 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 Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU):
- The closest airport to Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU) is Norfolk Regional Airport (OFK), which is located 37 miles (60 kilometers) N of OLU.
- Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,601 miles (17,060 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- Rapid City AAB was reactivated on 11 October 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Force.
- 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.
- In October 1960, Ellsworth entered the "Space Age," with the activation of the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron, initially assigned to the 28 BMW.
- In March 1944, heavy bomber operational training ended and the 225th Army Air Force Base Unit began training of replacement personnel for deployed heavy bombardment units in the overseas combat theaters.
- Military organizations periodically upgrade manpower and machines from time to time to meet new national security requirements and Ellsworth Air Force Base's organizations were no exception.
- 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 740th AC&W Squadron began operations in 1955 with AN/MPS-7 search radar, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept and warning station.
- 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 37.44 miles (60.26 km) N | Norfolk Regional Airport (OFK) | Norfolk, Nebraska, United States |     |
| 2 | 38.53 miles (62.01 km) ENE | Scribner State AirportScribner Army Airfield (SCB) | Scribner, Nebraska, United States | |
| 3 | 42.60 miles (68.55 km) E | Fremont Municipal Airport (FET) | Fremont, Nebraska, United States | |
| 4 | 51.22 miles (82.42 km) SE | Lincoln Airport (LNK) | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States | |
| 5 | 60.24 miles (96.94 km) WSW | Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI) | Grand Island, Nebraska, United States | |
| 6 | 66.18 miles (106.51 km) ESE | Millard Airport (MIQ) | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| 7 | 75.73 miles (121.87 km) E | Eppley Airfield (OMA) | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| 8 | 77.85 miles (125.28 km) ESE | Offutt Air Force Base (OFF) | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| 9 | 81.17 miles (130.63 km) SW | Hastings Municipal Airport (HSI) | Hastings, Nebraska, United States | |
| 10 | 82.31 miles (132.47 km) NE | Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) | Sioux City, Iowa, United States | |
| 11 | 83.18 miles (133.87 km) E | Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF) | Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States | |
| 12 | 85.01 miles (136.81 km) SSE | Beatrice Municipal Airport (BIE) | Beatrice, Nebraska, United States | |
| 13 | 98.75 miles (158.92 km) NW | O'Neill Municipal Airport (ONL) | O'Neill, Nebraska, United States | |
| 14 | 99.95 miles (160.85 km) WSW | Kearney Regional Airport (EAR) | Kearney, Nebraska, United States | |
| 15 | 101.50 miles (163.34 km) N | Chan Gurney Municipal Airport (YKN) | Yankton, South Dakota, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,600.55 miles (17,059.89 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,577.68 miles (17,023.08 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,558.74 miles (16,992.60 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 4 | 10,556.90 miles (16,989.64 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,553.86 miles (16,984.75 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,516.33 miles (16,924.35 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,501.92 miles (16,901.16 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,492.24 miles (16,885.58 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,490.10 miles (16,882.14 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,480.93 miles (16,867.37 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,461.75 miles (16,836.51 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,441.12 miles (16,803.31 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,419.01 miles (16,767.73 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,390.93 miles (16,722.54 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,388.04 miles (16,717.88 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, 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 | |