Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Grottaglie, Puglia, Italy:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(40°31'2"N by 17°24'11"E)
Distance from RCA to TAR:
5,518.73 miles (8,881.52 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- TAR Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about TAR
- 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 TAR
- List of Nearest Airports to TAR
- Map of Furthest Airports from TAR
- List of Furthest Airports from TAR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Taranto-Grottaglie Airport (TAR), Grottaglie, Puglia, Italy would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,519 miles (or 8,882 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 Taranto-Grottaglie 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 Taranto-Grottaglie 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: | TAR / LIBG |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Grottaglie, Puglia, Italy |
| GPS Coordinates: | 40°31'2"N by 17°24'11"E |
| Area Served: | Taranto / Grottaglie, Italy |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 215 feet (66 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from TAR |
| More Information: | TAR Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- Ellsworth Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 10 miles northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota just north of Box Elder, South Dakota.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- 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.
- 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.
- When operations resumed in 1947 the base was a new United States Air Force asset.
- 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.
- Air Defense Command deactivated the Ellsworth radar site on 15 August 1962 and the 740th was discontinued.
Facts about Taranto-Grottaglie Airport (TAR):
- Because of Taranto-Grottaglie Airport's relatively low elevation of 215 feet, planes can take off or land at Taranto-Grottaglie 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.
- The closest airport to Taranto-Grottaglie Airport (TAR) is Brindisi – Salento Airport (BDS), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) ENE of TAR.
- Taranto-Grottaglie Airport (TAR) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Taranto-Grottaglie Airport (TAR) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,692 miles (18,817 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- In addition to being known as "Taranto-Grottaglie Airport", other names for TAR include "Aeroporto di Taranto-Grottaglie" and "Taranto Grottaglie".
- After the war ended, the airfield was turned over to local authorities.
| 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 | 30.13 miles (48.49 km) ENE | Brindisi – Salento Airport (BDS) | Brindisi, Italy | |
| 2 | 42.97 miles (69.15 km) ESE | Lecce Galatina Airport (LCC) | Lecce, Italy | |
| 3 | 54.51 miles (87.72 km) NW | Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) | Bari, Italy | |
| 4 | 106.43 miles (171.28 km) S | Crotone Airport (CRV) | Crotone, Italy | |
| 5 | 116.16 miles (186.95 km) WNW | Foggia "Gino Lisa" Airport (FOG) | Foggia, Italy | |
| 6 | 127.34 miles (204.93 km) SSW | Lamezia Terme International Airport (SUF) | Lamezia Terme, Italy | |
| 7 | 130.90 miles (210.67 km) W | Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport (QSR) | Salerno, Italy | |
| 8 | 135.87 miles (218.66 km) ENE | Tirana International Airport Mother Teresa (TIA) | Tirana, Albania | |
| 9 | 146.96 miles (236.51 km) ESE | Corfu International Airport "Ioannis Kapodistrias" (CFU) | Corfu, Greece | |
| 10 | 147.22 miles (236.93 km) NNE | Tivat Airport (TIV) | Tivat, Montenegro | |
| 11 | 148.14 miles (238.40 km) NNE | Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) | Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia | |
| 12 | 159.26 miles (256.31 km) NE | Podgorica Airport (TGD) | Golubovci (near Podgorica), Montenegro | |
| 13 | 164.97 miles (265.50 km) W | Naples International Airport (NAP) | Naples, Italy | |
| 14 | 180.41 miles (290.34 km) ENE | Ohrid Airport (OHD) | Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia | |
| 15 | 189.38 miles (304.78 km) ESE | Ioannina National Airport (IOA) | Ioannina, Greece | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,692.46 miles (18,817.15 km) ESE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,396.78 miles (18,341.29 km) E | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,350.03 miles (18,266.06 km) E | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,328.07 miles (18,230.71 km) E | Whakatane Airport (WHK) | Whakatane, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,300.19 miles (18,185.85 km) E | Rotorua International Airport (ROT) | Rotorua, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,299.76 miles (18,185.16 km) E | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,298.50 miles (18,183.12 km) E | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,293.64 miles (18,175.31 km) E | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,285.73 miles (18,162.57 km) E | Tauranga Airport (TRG) | Tauranga, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,265.82 miles (18,130.54 km) E | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,262.92 miles (18,125.88 km) E | Matamata Airport (MTA) | Matamata, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,259.09 miles (18,119.71 km) E | Wanganui Airport (WAG) | Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,259.05 miles (18,119.64 km) E | Wellington International Airport (WLG) | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,244.01 miles (18,095.44 km) E | Hamilton International Airport (HLZ) | Hamilton, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,241.29 miles (18,091.05 km) E | Thames Aerodrome (TMZ) | Thames, New Zealand | |