Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(19°17'6"S by 138°46'18"W)
Distance from RCA to NUK:
4,928.86 miles (7,932.21 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- NUK Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about NUK
- 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 NUK
- List of Nearest Airports to NUK
- Map of Furthest Airports from NUK
- List of Furthest Airports from NUK
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Nukutavake Airport (NUK), Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,929 miles (or 7,932 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 Nukutavake 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 Nukutavake 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: | NUK / NTGW |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 19°17'6"S by 138°46'18"W |
| Area Served: | Nukutavake |
| Operator/Owner: | DSEAC Polynésie Française |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from NUK |
| More Information: | NUK 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- 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 12th Air Division moved to Ellsworth on 15 July 1988.
- 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 Nukutavake Airport (NUK):
- The closest airport to Nukutavake Airport (NUK) is Tureira Airport (ZTA), which is located 104 miles (167 kilometers) S of NUK.
- Nukutavake Airport (NUK) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Nukutavake Airport (NUK) is Al-Baha Domestic Airport (ABT), which is nearly antipodal to Nukutavake Airport (meaning Nukutavake Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Al-Baha Domestic Airport), and is located 12,362 miles (19,895 kilometers) away in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia.
- In addition to being known as "Nukutavake Airport", another name for NUK is "Aérodrome de Nukutavake".
| 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 | 103.56 miles (166.67 km) S | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 133.61 miles (215.02 km) ENE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 165.04 miles (265.60 km) WNW | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 277.00 miles (445.79 km) NNW | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 330.95 miles (532.61 km) NW | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 362.73 miles (583.76 km) SE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 371.09 miles (597.22 km) WNW | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 461.86 miles (743.28 km) WNW | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 505.16 miles (812.97 km) WNW | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 565.18 miles (909.57 km) WNW | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 587.28 miles (945.14 km) WNW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 588.08 miles (946.42 km) WNW | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 597.80 miles (962.07 km) WNW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 657.72 miles (1,058.49 km) N | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 720.38 miles (1,159.34 km) W | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,362.11 miles (19,894.85 km) NNW | Al-Baha Domestic Airport (ABT) | Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 2 | 12,334.09 miles (19,849.75 km) WNW | Bisha Domestic Airport (BHH) | Bisha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 3 | 12,318.71 miles (19,824.99 km) NW | Abha Regional Airport (AHB) | Abha / Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia | |
| 4 | 12,278.53 miles (19,760.33 km) NNE | Ta'if Regional Airport (TIF) | Ta'if, Saudi Arabia | |
| 5 | 12,223.86 miles (19,672.35 km) NE | King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 6 | 12,197.82 miles (19,630.44 km) WNW | Najran Domestic Airport (EAM) | Najran (Nejran), Saudi Arabia | |
| 7 | 12,176.25 miles (19,595.73 km) E | Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU) | Port Sudan, Sudan | |
| 8 | 12,159.41 miles (19,568.62 km) NNE | Massawa International Airport (MSW) | Massawa, Eritrea | |
| 9 | 12,121.39 miles (19,507.44 km) NNE | Asmara International Airport (ASM) | Asmara, Eritrea | |
| 10 | 12,107.95 miles (19,485.81 km) NW | El Rahaba Airport (Sana'a International) (SAH) | Sana'a, Yemen | |
| 11 | 12,103.06 miles (19,477.93 km) NNW | Hodeida International Airport (HOD) | Al Hudaydah (Hodeida), Yemen | |
| 12 | 12,059.94 miles (19,408.55 km) NNE | Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED) | Medina, Saudi Arabia | |
| 13 | 12,045.87 miles (19,385.90 km) NNE | Axum Emperor Yohannes IV Airport (AXU) | Axum, Ethiopia | |
| 14 | 12,044.44 miles (19,383.59 km) NNE | Yanbu International Airport (YNB) | Yanbu (Yenbo), Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 15 | 12,034.66 miles (19,367.85 km) NNW | Dawadmi Domestic Airport (DWD) | Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia | |