Nonstop flight route between Johannesburg, South Africa and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(26°14'32"S by 28°9'3"E)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from QRA to RCA:
9,470.25 miles (15,240.86 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- QRA Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about QRA
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to QRA
- List of Nearest Airports to QRA
- Map of Furthest Airports from QRA
- List of Furthest Airports from QRA
- 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 Rand Airport (QRA), Johannesburg, South Africa and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,470 miles (or 15,241 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 Rand 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 Rand 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: | QRA / FAGM |
| Airport Name: | Rand Airport |
| Location: | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 26°14'32"S by 28°9'3"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Rand Airport Management Company (Pty) Ltd. |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5482 feet (1,671 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from QRA |
| More Information: | QRA 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 Rand Airport (QRA):
- Because of Rand Airport's high elevation of 5,482 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at QRA. Combined with a high temperature, this could make QRA a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The furthest airport from Rand Airport (QRA) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,977 miles (19,275 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Rand Airport (QRA) has 2 runways.
- In October 2000, the airport was privatized.
- The closest airport to Rand Airport (QRA) is O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) NE of QRA.
- The foyer in the terminal building.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- 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 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.
- When operations resumed in 1947 the base was a new United States Air Force asset.
- Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command.
- The 12th Air Division moved to Ellsworth on 15 July 1988.
- 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 Army Air-Defense Command Post was established at Ellsworth in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions.
- Ellsworth's population of approximately 8,000 includes military members, family members and civilian employees.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9.26 miles (14.90 km) NE | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |     |
| 2 | 17.71 miles (28.50 km) N | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 3 | 23.65 miles (38.05 km) SE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 4 | 25.22 miles (40.58 km) NNW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 5 | 40.94 miles (65.89 km) N | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 87.43 miles (140.70 km) NW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 164.61 miles (264.91 km) W | Mafikeng Airport (MBD) | Mmabatho, South Africa | |
| 8 | 168.01 miles (270.39 km) WNW | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 9 | 180.65 miles (290.72 km) S | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 181.68 miles (292.39 km) NW | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 11 | 184.75 miles (297.32 km) NNE | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 12 | 189.05 miles (304.24 km) SSE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 13 | 193.11 miles (310.78 km) ENE | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 14 | 196.36 miles (316.01 km) E | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 15 | 217.41 miles (349.89 km) SSE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,977.24 miles (19,275.45 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,967.32 miles (19,259.48 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,961.61 miles (19,250.29 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,961.15 miles (19,249.56 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,953.31 miles (19,236.94 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,951.72 miles (19,234.39 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,942.40 miles (19,219.39 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,942.08 miles (19,218.86 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,940.28 miles (19,215.97 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,930.76 miles (19,200.65 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,926.00 miles (19,192.98 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,923.92 miles (19,189.64 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,923.92 miles (19,189.64 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,922.58 miles (19,187.48 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,916.37 miles (19,177.49 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, 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 | |