Nonstop flight route between Columbus, Ohio, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Ohio State University Airport (OSU), Columbus, Ohio, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,060 miles (or 1,706 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 Ohio State University Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Ohio State University Airport (OSU):

• The furthest airport from Ohio State University Airport (OSU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,350 miles (18,267 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• The closest airport to Ohio State University Airport (OSU) is Port Columbus International Airport (CMH), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) ESE of OSU.
• Ohio State University Airport (OSU) has 4 runways.
• The OSU Airport began in 1943 as a flight training facility for military and civilian pilots, operated by the OSU School of Aviation.
• The OSU Airport is home to 230 aircraft, including single- and multi-engine, piston, and turbine engine aircraft and rotorcraft.
• Because of Ohio State University Airport's relatively low elevation of 905 feet, planes can take off or land at Ohio State University 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.

Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):

• Shortly after additional runway improvements, in July 1949, the 28 BMW began conversion from B-29s to the huge B-36 Peacemaker.
• 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.
• The installation changed names a few more times during its early years.
• Internationally, the destruction of the Berlin Wall in October 1989 symbolized the imminent demise of the Soviet Union over the next several months.
• 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 base experienced one of its worst peacetime tragedies in March 1953 when an RB-36 and its entire crew of 23 crashed in Newfoundland while returning from a routine exercise in Europe.