Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(15°14'47"S by 146°37'13"W)
Distance from RCA to AXR:
4,934.57 miles (7,941.41 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- AXR Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about AXR
- 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 AXR
- List of Nearest Airports to AXR
- Map of Furthest Airports from AXR
- List of Furthest Airports from AXR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Arutua Airport (AXR), Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,935 miles (or 7,941 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 Ellsworth Air Force Base and Arutua Airport, 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 Ellsworth Air Force Base and Arutua Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
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: | AXR / NTGU |
| Airport Name: | Arutua Airport |
| Location: | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 15°14'47"S by 146°37'13"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from AXR |
| More Information: | AXR Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- Air Defense Command deactivated the Ellsworth radar site on 15 August 1962 and the 740th was discontinued.
- In October 1960, Ellsworth entered the "Space Age," with the activation of the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron, initially assigned to the 28 BMW.
- The mission of the 28th Bomb Wing is to deliver decisive combat power for global response.
- The airfield was again temporarily shut down from September 1946 – March 1947 and underwent a major construction program to upgrade the temporary wartime facilities to that of a permanent base.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- An Army Air-Defense Command Post was established at Ellsworth in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions.
- 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.
Facts about Arutua Airport (AXR):
- The closest airport to Arutua Airport (AXR) is Apataki Airport (APK), which is located 26 miles (42 kilometers) SSE of AXR.
- The furthest airport from Arutua Airport (AXR) is Khartoum International Airport (KRT), which is nearly antipodal to Arutua Airport (meaning Arutua Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Khartoum International Airport), and is located 12,377 miles (19,919 kilometers) away in Khartoum, Sudan.
| 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 | 26.40 miles (42.48 km) SSE | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 61.53 miles (99.02 km) NNE | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 66.86 miles (107.60 km) NNE | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 84.99 miles (136.77 km) SE | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 141.91 miles (228.38 km) W | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 162.79 miles (261.99 km) SSE | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 217.76 miles (350.45 km) ESE | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 254.52 miles (409.60 km) SW | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 259.61 miles (417.79 km) SW | Moorea Airport (MOZ) | Moorea, Windward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 281.16 miles (452.48 km) ESE | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 308.84 miles (497.04 km) WSW | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 351.00 miles (564.88 km) WSW | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 382.54 miles (615.64 km) WSW | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 383.70 miles (617.51 km) E | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 423.35 miles (681.31 km) ESE | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,376.86 miles (19,918.57 km) ENE | Khartoum International Airport (KRT) | Khartoum, Sudan | |
| 2 | 12,268.66 miles (19,744.45 km) W | Khashm El Girba Airport (GBU) | Khashm El Girba, Sudan | |
| 3 | 12,260.78 miles (19,731.77 km) NNW | Atbara Airport (ATB) | Atbara, Sudan | |
| 4 | 12,240.05 miles (19,698.40 km) W | Kassala Airport (KSL) | Kassala, Sudan | |
| 5 | 12,217.82 miles (19,662.62 km) NNW | Galegu Airport (DNX) | Dinder, Sudan | |
| 6 | 12,192.97 miles (19,622.63 km) NNE | Merowe Airport (MWE) | Merowe, Sudan | |
| 7 | 12,186.70 miles (19,612.55 km) NE | El Debba Airport (EDB) | El Debba (Al Dabbah), Sudan | |
| 8 | 12,185.03 miles (19,609.86 km) NE | Ad-Dabbah Airport (AAD) | Al Dabbah, Sudan | |
| 9 | 12,182.98 miles (19,606.55 km) WNW | Humera Airport (HUE) | Humera, Ethiopia | |
| 10 | 12,181.16 miles (19,603.62 km) NE | El Obeid Airport (EBD) | El Obeid, Sudan | |
| 11 | 12,106.01 miles (19,482.68 km) NW | Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport (GDQ) | Gondar, Ethiopia | |
| 12 | 12,103.98 miles (19,479.43 km) NE | Dongola Airport (DOG) | Dongola, Sudan | |
| 13 | 12,068.13 miles (19,421.73 km) W | Asmara International Airport (ASM) | Asmara, Eritrea | |
| 14 | 12,068.09 miles (19,421.67 km) WNW | Axum Emperor Yohannes IV Airport (AXU) | Axum, Ethiopia | |
| 15 | 12,066.54 miles (19,419.16 km) NNW | Asosa Airport (ASO) | Asosa, Ethiopia | |