Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(43°40'51"N by 93°22'5"W)
Distance from RCA to AEL:
483.92 miles (778.80 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- AEL Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about AEL
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCA
- List of Nearest Airports to RCA
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCA
- List of Furthest Airports from RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to AEL
- List of Nearest Airports to AEL
- Map of Furthest Airports from AEL
- List of Furthest Airports from AEL
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Albert Lea Municipal Airport (AEL), Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 484 miles (or 779 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 Ellsworth Air Force Base and Albert Lea Municipal Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure 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 |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | AEL / KAEL |
| Airport Name: | Albert Lea Municipal Airport |
| Location: | Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 43°40'51"N by 93°22'5"W |
| Area Served: | Albert Lea, Minnesota |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Albert Lea |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1261 feet (384 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from AEL |
| More Information: | AEL Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- 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.
- 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.
- Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command.
- After the Army closed their facilities, the military housing at the Nike Integrated Fire Control sites was transferred to control of Ellsworth, and was used as Air Force military family housing until about 1990.
Facts about Albert Lea Municipal Airport (AEL):
- Albert Lea Municipal Airport was recently granted over $3 million in federal economic stimulus funds to relocate the main runway.
- The closest airport to Albert Lea Municipal Airport (AEL) is Austin Municipal Airport (AUM), which is located 22 miles (35 kilometers) E of AEL.
- Albert Lea Municipal Airport (AEL) has 2 runways.
- From 1990-2008 Albert Lea was the host site for the International Aerobatic Club Doug Yost Challenge Aerobatic Competition.
- The furthest airport from Albert Lea Municipal Airport (AEL) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,773 miles (17,338 kilometers) away in Margaret River, 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 | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 21.79 miles (35.07 km) E | Austin Municipal Airport (AUM) | Austin, Minnesota, United States | |
| 2 | 33.41 miles (53.77 km) SSW | Forest City Municipal Airport (FXY) | Forest City, Iowa, United States | |
| 3 | 36.21 miles (58.27 km) S | Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) | Mason City, Iowa, United States | |
| 4 | 46.05 miles (74.11 km) ENE | Rochester International Airport (RST) | Rochester, Minnesota, United States | |
| 5 | 46.31 miles (74.53 km) NW | Mankato Regional Airport (MKT) | Mankato, Minnesota, United States | |
| 6 | 52.42 miles (84.36 km) W | Fairmont Municipal Airport (FRM) | Fairmont, Minnesota, United States | |
| 7 | 56.70 miles (91.24 km) SE | Northeast Iowa Regional Airport (CCY) | Charles City, Iowa, United States | |
| 8 | 57.60 miles (92.70 km) NNE | Stanton Airfield (SYN) | Stanton, Minnesota, United States | |
| 9 | 61.63 miles (99.18 km) SW | Algona Municipal Airport (AXG) | Algona, Iowa, United States | |
| 10 | 71.57 miles (115.18 km) NW | New Ulm Municipal Airport (ULM) | New Ulm, Minnesota, United States | |
| 11 | 78.83 miles (126.87 km) SW | Humboldt Municipal Airport (HUD) | Humboldt, Iowa, United States | |
| 12 | 79.31 miles (127.64 km) N | Flying Cloud Airport (FCM) | Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States | |
| 13 | 80.93 miles (130.24 km) W | Jackson Municipal Airport (MJQ) | Jackson, Minnesota, United States | |
| 14 | 83.28 miles (134.03 km) N | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport Wold–Chamberlain Airport (MSP) | Bloomington, Minnesota, United States | |
| 15 | 86.33 miles (138.93 km) ESE | Decorah Municipal Airport (DEH) | Decorah, Iowa, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,773.22 miles (17,337.78 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,749.67 miles (17,299.88 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,734.85 miles (17,276.02 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,724.70 miles (17,259.68 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,677.82 miles (17,184.24 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,676.66 miles (17,182.38 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,665.16 miles (17,163.87 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,654.77 miles (17,147.16 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,640.43 miles (17,124.07 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,629.63 miles (17,106.68 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,578.79 miles (17,024.88 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,547.78 miles (16,974.97 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,536.55 miles (16,956.89 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,527.15 miles (16,941.76 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,490.59 miles (16,882.93 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |