Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Grafton, New South Wales, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°45'36"S by 153°1'48"E)
Distance from RCA to GFN:
8,269.80 miles (13,308.92 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- GFN Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about GFN
- 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 GFN
- List of Nearest Airports to GFN
- Map of Furthest Airports from GFN
- List of Furthest Airports from GFN
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN), Grafton, New South Wales, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,270 miles (or 13,309 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 Clarence Valley Regional 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 Clarence Valley Regional 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: | GFN / YGFN |
| Airport Name: | Clarence Valley Regional Airport |
| Location: | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°45'36"S by 153°1'48"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Clarence Valley Council |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 110 feet (34 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GFN |
| More Information: | GFN Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- 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.
- 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.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- The installation changed names a few more times during its early years.
Facts about Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN):
- Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Clarence Valley Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 110 feet, planes can take off or land at Clarence Valley Regional 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.
- The furthest airport from Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN) is Santa Maria Airport (SMA), which is located 11,928 miles (19,196 kilometers) away in Santa Maria, Portugal.
- The closest airport to Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN) is Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS), which is located 39 miles (63 kilometers) S of GFN.
| 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 | 39.04 miles (62.83 km) S | Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) | Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 2 | 51.70 miles (83.20 km) NNE | Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (EVH) | Evans Head, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 3 | 65.87 miles (106.00 km) NNE | Lismore Airport (LSY) | Lismore, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 4 | 71.59 miles (115.22 km) NNE | Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) | Ballina, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 5 | 80.62 miles (129.75 km) W | Glen Innes Airport (GLI) | Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 92.13 miles (148.27 km) S | Kempsey Airport (KPS) | Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 7 | 99.74 miles (160.52 km) WSW | Armidale Airport (ARM) | Armidale, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 113.39 miles (182.48 km) W | Inverell Airport (IVR) | Inverell, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 9 | 113.88 miles (183.28 km) NNE | Gold Coast Airport (OOL) | Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia | |
| 10 | 116.21 miles (187.02 km) S | Port Macquarie Airport (PQQ) | Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 11 | 121.75 miles (195.94 km) NW | Stanthorpe Airport (SNH) | Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia | |
| 12 | 158.88 miles (255.70 km) SW | Tamworth Airport (TMW) | Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 13 | 164.30 miles (264.41 km) N | Brisbane Airport (BNE) | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | |
| 14 | 184.56 miles (297.02 km) WNW | Goondiwindi Airport (GOO) | Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia | |
| 15 | 185.36 miles (298.31 km) WSW | Gunnedah Airport (GUH) | Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,927.70 miles (19,195.73 km) NNW | Santa Maria Airport (SMA) | Santa Maria, Portugal | |
| 2 | 11,880.50 miles (19,119.76 km) N | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 11,875.68 miles (19,112.00 km) W | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 4 | 11,834.90 miles (19,046.38 km) W | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 5 | 11,823.39 miles (19,027.86 km) N | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 11,823.39 miles (19,027.86 km) N | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 11,814.79 miles (19,014.01 km) N | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 11,801.75 miles (18,993.03 km) WNW | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 9 | 11,797.05 miles (18,985.46 km) W | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 10 | 11,789.48 miles (18,973.28 km) W | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 11 | 11,789.18 miles (18,972.80 km) N | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 12 | 11,770.50 miles (18,942.74 km) WNW | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 13 | 11,726.39 miles (18,871.74 km) NNE | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 14 | 11,724.82 miles (18,869.21 km) W | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) | Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 15 | 11,712.97 miles (18,850.15 km) NNE | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |