Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Lebakeng, Lesotho:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°53'26"S by 28°39'20"E)
Distance from RCA to LEF:
9,643.29 miles (15,519.34 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- LEF Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about LEF
- 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 LEF
- List of Nearest Airports to LEF
- Map of Furthest Airports from LEF
- List of Furthest Airports from LEF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Lebakeng Airport (LEF), Lebakeng, Lesotho would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,643 miles (or 15,519 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 Lebakeng 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 Lebakeng 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: | LEF / FXLK |
| Airport Name: | Lebakeng Airport |
| Location: | Lebakeng, Lesotho |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°53'26"S by 28°39'20"E |
| Area Served: | Lebakeng |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 6040 feet (1,841 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LEF |
| More Information: | LEF 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ellsworth's population of approximately 8,000 includes military members, family members and civilian employees.
- The base experienced one of its worst peacetime tragedies in March 1953 when an RB-36 and its entire crew of 23 crashed in Newfoundland while returning from a routine exercise in Europe.
- 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 Lebakeng Airport (LEF):
- The furthest airport from Lebakeng Airport (LEF) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,744 miles (18,900 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Because of Lebakeng Airport's high elevation of 6,040 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at LEF. Combined with a high temperature, this could make LEF a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The closest airport to Lebakeng Airport (LEF) is Lesobeng Airport (LES), which is located 20 miles (32 kilometers) WNW of LEF.
- Lebakeng Airport (LEF) 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 | 20.19 miles (32.50 km) WNW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 2 | 35.87 miles (57.72 km) W | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 3 | 48.99 miles (78.84 km) NNE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 72.54 miles (116.74 km) WNW | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 5 | 80.21 miles (129.09 km) NNW | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 84.86 miles (136.57 km) W | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 105.88 miles (170.39 km) E | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 8 | 112.17 miles (180.53 km) NE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 114.39 miles (184.10 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 10 | 120.82 miles (194.43 km) SE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 148.34 miles (238.73 km) E | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 12 | 151.77 miles (244.24 km) WNW | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 13 | 221.74 miles (356.85 km) ENE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 14 | 222.73 miles (358.45 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 15 | 234.26 miles (377.00 km) N | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,744.23 miles (18,900.47 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,742.27 miles (18,897.31 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,739.35 miles (18,892.60 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,736.32 miles (18,887.72 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,734.88 miles (18,885.42 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,722.26 miles (18,865.11 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,721.88 miles (18,864.49 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,717.13 miles (18,856.84 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,716.92 miles (18,856.51 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,716.92 miles (18,856.51 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,714.41 miles (18,852.47 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,711.00 miles (18,846.99 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,706.15 miles (18,839.18 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,701.98 miles (18,832.47 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,698.52 miles (18,826.90 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |