Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Biarritz, France:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ), Biarritz, France would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,697 miles (or 7,559 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 Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne 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 Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):

• 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.
• The 740th AC&W Squadron began operations in 1955 with AN/MPS-7 search radar, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept and warning station.
• Rapid City AAB was reactivated on 11 October 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Force.
• In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
• An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956.
• In March 1994, Ellsworth welcomed the 34th Bomb Squadron, a geographically separated unit that was awaiting airfield upgrades before it could return to its parent organization, the 366th Wing, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.
• 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.
• Ellsworth AFB is 10 miles east of Rapid City, S.D.

Facts about Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ):

• The furthest airport from Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ) is Hood Aerodrome (MRO), which is nearly antipodal to Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (meaning Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Hood Aerodrome), and is located 12,211 miles (19,652 kilometers) away in Masterton, New Zealand.
• The closest airport to Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ) is San Sebastián Airport (EAS), which is located only 15 miles (25 kilometers) WSW of BIQ.
• Because of Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport's relatively low elevation of 245 feet, planes can take off or land at Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne 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.
• In addition to being known as "Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport", another name for BIQ is "Aéroport de Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne".
• Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ) currently has only 1 runway.