Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°38'48"S by 30°23'53"E)
Distance from RCA to PZB:
9,719.84 miles (15,642.52 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- PZB Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about PZB
- 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 PZB
- List of Nearest Airports to PZB
- Map of Furthest Airports from PZB
- List of Furthest Airports from PZB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), Pietermaritzburg, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,720 miles (or 15,643 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 Pietermaritzburg 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 Pietermaritzburg 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: | PZB / FAPM |
| Airport Name: | Pietermaritzburg Airport |
| Location: | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°38'48"S by 30°23'53"E |
| Area Served: | Pietermaritzburg |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2423 feet (739 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PZB |
| More Information: | PZB Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- On 2 January 1942, the U.S.
- 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 addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- An Army Air-Defense Command Post was established at Ellsworth in 1960 for Nike missile command-and-control functions.
- Military organizations periodically upgrade manpower and machines from time to time to meet new national security requirements and Ellsworth Air Force Base's organizations were no exception.
- In 1986, the base and the 28 BMW made extensive preparations to phase out the aging B-52 fleet and become the second home for the advanced B-1B Lancer.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB):
- Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) is King Shaka International (DUR), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) E of PZB.
- The furthest airport from Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,706 miles (18,839 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
| 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 | 42.69 miles (68.70 km) E | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 2 | 83.35 miles (134.14 km) NNW | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 83.63 miles (134.59 km) WNW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 83.86 miles (134.96 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 105.88 miles (170.39 km) W | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) ENE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 122.75 miles (197.54 km) W | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 140.90 miles (226.76 km) W | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 151.59 miles (243.96 km) WNW | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 160.36 miles (258.08 km) NE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 11 | 166.52 miles (267.98 km) SW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 12 | 171.51 miles (276.02 km) W | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 189.60 miles (305.13 km) W | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 222.43 miles (357.96 km) NNE | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 15 | 248.95 miles (400.65 km) NNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,705.97 miles (18,838.89 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,697.37 miles (18,825.04 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,694.77 miles (18,820.85 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,692.21 miles (18,816.75 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,686.79 miles (18,808.03 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,679.67 miles (18,796.55 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,670.76 miles (18,782.22 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,669.82 miles (18,780.71 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,666.25 miles (18,774.96 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,664.41 miles (18,772.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,662.49 miles (18,768.91 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,662.49 miles (18,768.91 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,658.50 miles (18,762.49 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,655.71 miles (18,757.99 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |