Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Mafeteng, Lesotho:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°48'2"S by 27°14'35"E)
Distance from RCA to MFC:
9,569.90 miles (15,401.22 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- MFC Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about MFC
- 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 MFC
- List of Nearest Airports to MFC
- Map of Furthest Airports from MFC
- List of Furthest Airports from MFC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Mafeteng Airport (MFC), Mafeteng, Lesotho would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,570 miles (or 15,401 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 Mafeteng 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 Mafeteng 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: | MFC / FXMF |
| Airport Name: | Mafeteng Airport |
| Location: | Mafeteng, Lesotho |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°48'2"S by 27°14'35"E |
| Area Served: | Mafeteng |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5350 feet (1,631 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MFC |
| More Information: | MFC Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (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.
- An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956.
- 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".
- 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.
- On 2 January 1942, the U.S.
- The airfield was again temporarily shut down from September 1946 – March 1947 and underwent a major construction program to upgrade the temporary wartime facilities to that of a permanent base.
Facts about Mafeteng Airport (MFC):
- The furthest airport from Mafeteng Airport (MFC) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,788 miles (18,971 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- Mafeteng Airport (MFC) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Mafeteng Airport's high elevation of 5,350 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MFC. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MFC a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The closest airport to Mafeteng Airport (MFC) is Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) NE of MFC.
| 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 | 29.87 miles (48.07 km) NE | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 2 | 49.02 miles (78.90 km) E | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 3 | 66.86 miles (107.59 km) E | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 74.70 miles (120.22 km) NW | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 5 | 81.50 miles (131.17 km) NE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 84.86 miles (136.57 km) E | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 115.67 miles (186.15 km) ENE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 147.60 miles (237.54 km) SE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 9 | 164.58 miles (264.87 km) WNW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 10 | 173.30 miles (278.90 km) ENE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 189.60 miles (305.13 km) E | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | 198.79 miles (319.92 km) ESE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 13 | 226.04 miles (363.78 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 14 | 232.28 miles (373.82 km) E | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 15 | 238.00 miles (383.02 km) NNE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,787.83 miles (18,970.63 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,782.27 miles (18,961.68 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,781.01 miles (18,959.64 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,780.47 miles (18,958.78 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,779.20 miles (18,956.74 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,775.68 miles (18,951.08 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,774.90 miles (18,949.83 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,768.35 miles (18,939.28 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,768.35 miles (18,939.28 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,768.07 miles (18,938.83 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,763.19 miles (18,930.97 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,761.21 miles (18,927.78 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,759.15 miles (18,924.47 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,750.01 miles (18,909.77 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,744.75 miles (18,901.30 km) NE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |