Nonstop flight route between Platinum, Alaska, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(59°0'41"N by 161°49'9"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from PTU to RCA:
2,620.64 miles (4,217.50 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- PTU Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about PTU
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to PTU
- List of Nearest Airports to PTU
- Map of Furthest Airports from PTU
- List of Furthest Airports from PTU
- 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 Platinum Airport (PTU), Platinum, Alaska, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,621 miles (or 4,218 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 Platinum 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 Platinum 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: | PTU / PAPM |
| Airport Name: | Platinum Airport |
| Location: | Platinum, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 59°0'41"N by 161°49'9"W |
| Area Served: | Platinum, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | Alaska DOT&PF - Central Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 18 feet (5 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PTU |
| More Information: | PTU 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 Platinum Airport (PTU):
- Because of Platinum Airport's relatively low elevation of 18 feet, planes can take off or land at Platinum 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.
- The closest airport to Platinum Airport (PTU) is Goodnews Airport (GNU), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) NE of PTU.
- The furthest airport from Platinum Airport (PTU) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,706 miles (17,230 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Platinum Airport (PTU) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command.
- 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'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.
- Air Defense Command activated the 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Rapid City AFB on 1 February 1953 under the ADC 31st Air Division.
- 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 | 11.30 miles (18.18 km) NE | Goodnews Airport (GNU) | Goodnews, Alaska, United States |     |
| 2 | 26.68 miles (42.93 km) SSW | Cape Newenham LRRS Airport (EHM) | Cape Newenham, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 50.66 miles (81.52 km) E | Togiak Airport (TOG) | Togiak Village, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 51.39 miles (82.70 km) N | Quinhagak Airport (KWN) | Quinhagak, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 55.06 miles (88.61 km) E | Twin Hills Airport (TWA) | Twin Hills, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 75.43 miles (121.40 km) NNW | Kongiganak Airport (KKH) | Kongiganak, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 83.43 miles (134.28 km) N | Eek Airport (EEK) | Eek, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 96.13 miles (154.71 km) NNW | Tuntutuliak Airport (WTL) | Tuntutuliak, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 98.60 miles (158.68 km) E | Manokotak Airport (KMO) | Manokotak, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 100.38 miles (161.54 km) NW | Kipnuk Airport (KPN) | Kipnuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 114.97 miles (185.03 km) E | Aleknagik Airport (WKK) | Aleknagik, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 116.13 miles (186.89 km) N | Napakiak Airport (WNA) | Napakiak, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 116.71 miles (187.82 km) NW | Chefornak Airport (CYF) | Chefornak, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 116.87 miles (188.09 km) N | Napaskiak Airport (PKA) | Napaskiak, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 117.84 miles (189.65 km) E | Dillingham Airport (DLG) | Dillingham, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,706.46 miles (17,230.34 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,698.43 miles (17,217.42 km) S | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,674.38 miles (17,178.71 km) SSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,632.95 miles (17,112.03 km) SSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,587.67 miles (17,039.16 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,477.08 miles (16,861.19 km) SSW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,410.02 miles (16,753.25 km) SSW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,409.77 miles (16,752.86 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,382.45 miles (16,708.90 km) S | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,382.45 miles (16,708.90 km) S | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 11 | 10,373.75 miles (16,694.89 km) SSW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,367.99 miles (16,685.61 km) SSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 10,365.05 miles (16,680.89 km) SSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 10,359.17 miles (16,671.42 km) SSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 10,347.62 miles (16,652.84 km) SSW | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 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 | |