Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Solwezi, Zambia:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(12°10'27"S by 26°22'0"E)
Distance from RCA to SLI:
8,728.82 miles (14,047.63 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- SLI Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about SLI
- 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 SLI
- List of Nearest Airports to SLI
- Map of Furthest Airports from SLI
- List of Furthest Airports from SLI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Solwezi Airport (SLI), Solwezi, Zambia would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,729 miles (or 14,048 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 Solwezi 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 Solwezi 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: | SLI / FLSW |
| Airport Name: | Solwezi Airport |
| Location: | Solwezi, Zambia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 12°10'27"S by 26°22'0"E |
| Airport Type: | Military/Public |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SLI |
| More Information: | SLI 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".
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Shortly after additional runway improvements, in July 1949, the 28 BMW began conversion from B-29s to the huge B-36 Peacemaker.
- 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.
- On 15 July 1945, the 225th AAFBU was inactivated and Rapid City AAB was placed on standby status as the Army Air Forces began to demobilize.
- 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.
Facts about Solwezi Airport (SLI):
- The furthest airport from Solwezi Airport (SLI) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,907 miles (19,162 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Solwezi Airport (SLI) is Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM), which is located 88 miles (142 kilometers) ENE of SLI.
- Solwezi Airport (SLI) 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 | 88.42 miles (142.30 km) ENE | Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) | Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 2 | 106.69 miles (171.69 km) ESE | Kasompe Airport (CGJ) | Chingola, Zambia | |
| 3 | 113.43 miles (182.55 km) NNW | Kolwezi Airport (KWZ) | Kolwezi, Lualaba District, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 4 | 130.30 miles (209.70 km) ESE | Southdowns Airport (KIW) | Kitwe, Zambia | |
| 5 | 164.83 miles (265.27 km) ESE | Ndola Airport (NLA) | Ndola, Zambia | |
| 6 | 184.28 miles (296.57 km) ENE | Mansa Airport (MNS) | Mansa, Luapula Province, Zambia | |
| 7 | 209.30 miles (336.83 km) SSW | Kaoma Airport (KMZ) | Kaoma, Zambia | |
| 8 | 233.99 miles (376.56 km) W | Cazombo Airport (CAV) | Cazombo, Angola | |
| 9 | 239.06 miles (384.73 km) WSW | Zambezi Airport (BBZ) | Zambezi, Zambia | |
| 10 | 255.52 miles (411.22 km) NNW | Kamina Air Base (KMN) | Kamina, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 11 | 258.93 miles (416.70 km) SW | Lukulu Airport (LXU) | Lukulu, Zambia | |
| 12 | 259.14 miles (417.04 km) SSE | Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) | Lusaka, Zambia | |
| 13 | 263.58 miles (424.19 km) S | Ngoma Airport (ZGM) | Ngoma, Zambia | |
| 14 | 297.68 miles (479.06 km) WNW | Villa Teixeira de Sousa Airport (UAL) | Luau, Moxico, Angola | |
| 15 | 302.57 miles (486.93 km) SW | Mongu Airport (MNR) | Mongu, Western Province, Zambia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,907.02 miles (19,162.45 km) N | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,890.16 miles (19,135.30 km) NNE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,889.39 miles (19,134.08 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,879.41 miles (19,118.00 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,858.61 miles (19,084.53 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,820.63 miles (19,023.41 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,806.23 miles (19,000.24 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,802.59 miles (18,994.37 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,797.13 miles (18,985.59 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,775.55 miles (18,950.86 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,774.53 miles (18,949.21 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,744.33 miles (18,900.62 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,744.33 miles (18,900.62 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,740.99 miles (18,895.24 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,730.75 miles (18,878.76 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |