Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Bullhead City, Arizona, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP), Bullhead City, Arizona, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 870 miles (or 1,400 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 Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):

• To provide air defense of the base, the United States Army established the Ellsworth AFB Defense Area in 1957 and constructed Nike-Ajax Surface-to-air missile sites for air defense.
• On 1 June 1971, SAC deactivated the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division and by October of that year, an upgraded LGM-30F Minuteman II also replaced the Minuteman I missiles.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• In March 1944, heavy bomber operational training ended and the 225th Army Air Force Base Unit began training of replacement personnel for deployed heavy bombardment units in the overseas combat theaters.

Facts about Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP):

• More than 115,000 people flew in to Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport on casino-sponsored chartered flights in 2010, however, no larger established commercial airlines are currently utilizing the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport.
• IFP has three instrument approaches.
• The FAA requires there to be 1,000 feet reserved for the Runway Safety Area at each end of a runway.
• The closest airport to Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP) is Needles AirportNeedles Army Airfield (EED), which is located 27 miles (44 kilometers) S of IFP.
• Because of Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport's relatively low elevation of 701 feet, planes can take off or land at Laughlin/Bullhead International 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.
• Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,365 miles (18,291 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• A rotating beacon is at the north end of the airport.
• The airport is seen as the departing airport for a "Sierra Airlines" flight to Fresno in the opening scenes of the 2003 comedy film View from the Top.