Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Magdeburg, Germany:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport (CSO), Magdeburg, Germany would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,743 miles (or 7,634 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 Magdeburg–Cochstedt 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 Magdeburg–Cochstedt 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):

• Ellsworth AFB was established in 1941 as Rapid City Army Air Base.
• In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
• Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command.
• 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.
• Air Defense Command activated the 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Rapid City AFB on 1 February 1953 under the ADC 31st Air Division.
• Shortly after additional runway improvements, in July 1949, the 28 BMW began conversion from B-29s to the huge B-36 Peacemaker.
• 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.
• In October 1960, Ellsworth entered the "Space Age," with the activation of the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron, initially assigned to the 28 BMW.

Facts about Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport (CSO):

• On 4 March 2010 the airport was acquired by the Danish company Development A/S.
• The furthest airport from Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport (CSO) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,772 miles (18,946 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• Because of Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport's relatively low elevation of 596 feet, planes can take off or land at Magdeburg–Cochstedt 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.
• Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport (CSO) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport", another name for CSO is "Flughafen Magdeburg-Cochstedt".
• The closest airport to Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport (CSO) is Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ), which is located 46 miles (74 kilometers) SE of CSO.
• In June 2000, an instrument landing system Category I and a high-performance approach lights were put into operation allowing the operation under instrument flying rules.