Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Carrickfinn, Ireland:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Donegal Airport (CFN), Carrickfinn, Ireland would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,975 miles (or 6,397 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 Donegal 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 Donegal 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):

• On 15 July 1945, the 225th AAFBU was inactivated and Rapid City AAB was placed on standby status as the Army Air Forces began to demobilize.
• 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.
• In 1986, the base and the 28 BMW made extensive preparations to phase out the aging B-52 fleet and become the second home for the advanced B-1B Lancer.
• 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.
• 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.
• On 2 January 1942, the U.S.
• The installation changed names a few more times during its early years.
• Shortly after additional runway improvements, in July 1949, the 28 BMW began conversion from B-29s to the huge B-36 Peacemaker.
• In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
• 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 Donegal Airport (CFN):

• The closest airport to Donegal Airport (CFN) is City of Derry Airport (LDY), which is located 47 miles (75 kilometers) E of CFN.
• Loganair is the only scheduled airline currently using the airport.
• The furthest airport from Donegal Airport (CFN) is Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS), which is located 11,853 miles (19,076 kilometers) away in Stewart Island, New Zealand.
• Because of Donegal Airport's relatively low elevation of 30 feet, planes can take off or land at Donegal 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.
• Donegal Airport is located 2 NM south-west of Bunbeg, being located at Carrickfinn, a townland in The Rosses, a district in north-west County Donegal, Ireland.
• Donegal Airport (CFN) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Donegal Airport", another name for CFN is "Aerfort Dhún na nGall".
• In February 2010, Aer Arann closed its service to Glasgow Prestwick Airport and relocated to Glasgow International Airport