Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Pilot Station, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(61°56'3"N by 162°53'57"W)
Distance from RCA to PQS:
2,649.40 miles (4,263.79 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- PQS Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about PQS
- 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 PQS
- List of Nearest Airports to PQS
- Map of Furthest Airports from PQS
- List of Furthest Airports from PQS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Pilot Station Airport (PQS), Pilot Station, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,649 miles (or 4,264 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 Pilot Station 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 Pilot Station 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: | PQS / |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Pilot Station, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 61°56'3"N by 162°53'57"W |
| Area Served: | Pilot Station, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 305 feet (93 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PQS |
| More Information: | PQS Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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 Pilot Station Airport (PQS):
- The closest airport to Pilot Station Airport (PQS) is St. Mary's Airport (KSM), which is located only 16 miles (25 kilometers) NW of PQS.
- Pilot Station Airport (PQS) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Pilot Station Airport's relatively low elevation of 305 feet, planes can take off or land at Pilot Station 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.
- In addition to being known as "Pilot Station Airport", another name for PQS is "0AK".
- The furthest airport from Pilot Station Airport (PQS) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,503 miles (16,904 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
| 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 | 15.71 miles (25.28 km) NW | St. Mary's Airport (KSM) | St. Mary's, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 27.70 miles (44.57 km) WNW | Mountain Village Airport (MOU) | Mountain Village, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 28.83 miles (46.40 km) E | Marshall Don Hunter Sr. Airport (MLL) | Marshall, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 52.66 miles (84.75 km) ESE | Russian Mission Airport (RSH) | Russian Mission, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 72.68 miles (116.97 km) SSE | Nunapitchuk Airport (NUP) | Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 74.36 miles (119.67 km) S | Kasigluk Airport (KUK) | Kasigluk, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 74.66 miles (120.15 km) WNW | Sheldon Point Airport (SXP) | Sheldon Point, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 76.48 miles (123.08 km) NW | Alakanuk Airport (AUK) | Alakanuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 76.63 miles (123.32 km) SSE | Atmautluak Airport (ATT) | Atmautluak, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 77.87 miles (125.32 km) NW | Emmonak Airport (EMK) | Emmonak, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 78.39 miles (126.15 km) NNW | Kotlik Airport (KOT) | Kotlik, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 85.98 miles (138.37 km) SE | Tuluksak Airport (TLT) | Tuluksak, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 87.20 miles (140.33 km) W | Scammon Bay Airport (SCM) | Scammon Bay, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 87.26 miles (140.44 km) SSE | Bethel Airport (BET) | Bethel, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 88.09 miles (141.77 km) ESE | Kalskag Airport (KLG) | Kalskag, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,503.48 miles (16,903.67 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,493.23 miles (16,887.18 km) S | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,469.69 miles (16,849.29 km) SSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,428.98 miles (16,783.77 km) SSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,384.35 miles (16,711.95 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,274.23 miles (16,534.72 km) SSW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,208.73 miles (16,429.31 km) SSW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,208.46 miles (16,428.88 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,179.36 miles (16,382.06 km) S | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,179.36 miles (16,382.06 km) S | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 11 | 10,169.54 miles (16,366.24 km) SSW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,164.32 miles (16,357.85 km) SSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 10,161.86 miles (16,353.89 km) SSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 10,155.71 miles (16,344.00 km) SSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 10,143.55 miles (16,324.43 km) SSW | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |