Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Center Island, Washington, United States:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(48°29'24"N by 122°49'54"W)
Distance from RCA to CWS:
986.14 miles (1,587.04 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- CWS Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about CWS
- 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 CWS
- List of Nearest Airports to CWS
- Map of Furthest Airports from CWS
- List of Furthest Airports from CWS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Center Island Airport (CWS), Center Island, Washington, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 986 miles (or 1,587 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 Center Island 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: | CWS / |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Center Island, Washington, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 48°29'24"N by 122°49'54"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Center Island Association |
| Airport Type: | Private |
| Elevation: | 115 feet (35 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CWS |
| More Information: | CWS Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (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.
- 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.
- 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 addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- Rapid City AAB was reactivated on 11 October 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Force.
- 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 was established in 1941 as Rapid City Army Air Base.
Facts about Center Island Airport (CWS):
- The closest airport to Center Island Airport (CWS) is Fishermans Bay/LPS Seaplane Base (LPS), which is located only 4 miles (7 kilometers) WNW of CWS.
- In addition to being known as "Center Island Airport", another name for CWS is "78WA".
- The furthest airport from Center Island Airport (CWS) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,724 miles (17,259 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Because of Center Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 115 feet, planes can take off or land at Center Island 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.
- Center Island Airport (CWS) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 4.35 miles (7.01 km) WNW | Fishermans Bay/LPS Seaplane Base (LPS) | Lopez Island, Washington, United States | |
| 2 | 7.77 miles (12.50 km) E | Anacortes Airport (OTS) | Anacortes, Washington, United States | |
| 3 | 8.78 miles (14.13 km) WNW | Friday Harbor Seaplane Base (FBS) | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States | |
| 4 | 9.10 miles (14.64 km) WNW | Friday Harbor Airport (FRD) | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States | |
| 5 | 10.53 miles (16.95 km) NNW | Westsound Seaplane Base (WSX) | Westsound, Orcas Island, Washington, United States | |
| 6 | 10.88 miles (17.50 km) N | Rosario Seaplane Base (RSJ) | Orcas Island, Washington, United States | |
| 7 | 12.49 miles (20.10 km) SE | NAS Whidbey Island (NUW) | Oak Harbor, Washington, United States | |
| 8 | 15.49 miles (24.93 km) NNW | Orcas Island Airport (ESD) | Eastsound, Washington, United States | |
| 9 | 17.08 miles (27.48 km) WNW | Roche Harbor Seaplane Base (RCE) | San Juan Island, Washington, United States | |
| 10 | 17.99 miles (28.96 km) SSE | A.J. Eisenberg Airport (ODW) | Oak Harbor, Washington, United States | |
| 11 | 18.86 miles (30.36 km) E | Skagit Regional Airport (MVW) | Burlington / Mount Vernon, Washington, United States | |
| 12 | 24.84 miles (39.98 km) NNE | Bellingham International Airport (BLI) | Bellingham, Washington, United States | |
| 13 | 25.33 miles (40.76 km) NW | Bedwell Harbour Water Aerodrome (YBW) | Bedwell Harbour, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 14 | 25.89 miles (41.66 km) W | Victoria Inner Harbour Airport (YWH) | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 15 | 26.34 miles (42.38 km) W | Esquimalt Airport (YPF) | Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,724.26 miles (17,258.98 km) SSE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 10,659.50 miles (17,154.76 km) SSE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 10,584.67 miles (17,034.34 km) ESE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,578.26 miles (17,024.01 km) ESE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,569.67 miles (17,010.20 km) ESE | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,557.17 miles (16,990.08 km) S | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 7 | 10,546.78 miles (16,973.35 km) ESE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,542.31 miles (16,966.16 km) SE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,535.38 miles (16,955.00 km) ESE | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,531.57 miles (16,948.88 km) SE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 10,527.62 miles (16,942.53 km) S | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 12 | 10,516.77 miles (16,925.06 km) ESE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,497.83 miles (16,894.58 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 14 | 10,497.75 miles (16,894.45 km) SE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 15 | 10,489.36 miles (16,880.94 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |