Nonstop flight route between Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Pituffik, Greenland:
Departure Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Arrival Airport:
(76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W)
Distance from RCA to THU:
2,444.81 miles (3,934.53 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCA Airport Information
- THU Airport Information
- Facts about RCA
- Facts about THU
- 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 THU
- List of Nearest Airports to THU
- Map of Furthest Airports from THU
- List of Furthest Airports from THU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States and Thule Air Base (THU), Pituffik, Greenland would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,445 miles (or 3,935 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 relatively short distance between Ellsworth Air Force Base and Thule Air Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
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: | THU / BGTL |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Pituffik, Greenland |
| GPS Coordinates: | 76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from THU |
| More Information: | THU Maps & Info |
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- Rapid City AAB was reactivated on 11 October 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Force.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- Air Defense Command deactivated the Ellsworth radar site on 15 August 1962 and the 740th was discontinued.
- 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.
- On 2 January 1942, the U.S.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Thule Air Base (THU):
- The closest airport to Thule Air Base (THU) is Savissivik Heliport (SVR), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) ESE of THU.
- In 1818, Sir John Ross’s expedition made first contact with nomadic Polar Eskimos in the area.
- In 1957 construction began on 4 Nike Missile sites around the base, and they and their radar systems were operational by the end of 1958.
- Thule AB was constructed in secret under the code name Operation Blue Jay, but the project was made public in September 1952.
- The furthest airport from Thule Air Base (THU) is Hobart International Airport (HBA), which is located 9,883 miles (15,905 kilometers) away in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
- In 1961, a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System radar was constructed at "J-Site," 21 km northeast of main base.
- In addition to being known as "Thule Air Base", another name for THU is "Thule AB".
| 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 | 69.00 miles (111.05 km) ESE | Savissivik Heliport (SVR) | Savissivik, Greenland | |
| 2 | 92.13 miles (148.27 km) NNW | Siorapaluk Heliport (SRK) | Siorapaluk, Greenland | |
| 3 | 229.06 miles (368.63 km) W | Grise Fiord Airport (YGZ) | Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 4 | 238.65 miles (384.06 km) ESE | Kullorsuaq Heliport (KHQ) | Kullorsuaq, Greenland | |
| 5 | 262.86 miles (423.04 km) ESE | Nuussuaq Heliport (NSQ) | Nuussuaq, Greenland | |
| 6 | 313.53 miles (504.57 km) SE | Tasiusaq Heliport (TQA) | Tasiusaq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland | |
| 7 | 314.36 miles (505.92 km) SW | Pond Inlet Airport (YIO) | Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 8 | 322.94 miles (519.72 km) SE | Innaarsuit Heliport (IUI) | Innaarsuit, Greenland | |
| 9 | 336.81 miles (542.05 km) NW | Eureka Aerodrome (YEU) | Eureka, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 10 | 344.46 miles (554.35 km) SE | Upernavik Airport (JUV) | Upernavik, Greenland | |
| 11 | 345.57 miles (556.13 km) SE | Aappilattoq Heliport (AOQ) | Aappilattoq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland | |
| 12 | 374.63 miles (602.91 km) SE | Kangersuatsiaq Heliport (KGQ) | Kangersuatsiaq, Greenland | |
| 13 | 376.92 miles (606.58 km) WSW | Nanisivik Airport (YSR) | Nanisivik, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 14 | 381.61 miles (614.14 km) WSW | Arctic Bay Airport (YAB) | Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 15 | 417.70 miles (672.23 km) S | Clyde River Airport (YCY) | Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9,882.84 miles (15,904.85 km) SW | Hobart International Airport (HBA) | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 2 | 9,870.98 miles (15,885.76 km) WSW | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 9,835.86 miles (15,829.25 km) WSW | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 9,799.28 miles (15,770.37 km) SW | Launceston Airport (LST) | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 5 | 9,782.86 miles (15,743.95 km) SW | Devonport Airport (DPO) | Devonport, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 6 | 9,779.11 miles (15,737.92 km) SW | Burnie Airport (BWT) | Burnie, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 7 | 9,775.29 miles (15,731.77 km) WSW | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 9,775.14 miles (15,731.52 km) SW | Smithton Airport (SIO) | Smithton, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 9 | 9,772.93 miles (15,727.96 km) SW | St Helens Airport (HLS) | St. Helens, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 10 | 9,772.19 miles (15,726.78 km) SW | George Town Aerodrome (GEE) | George Town, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 11 | 9,741.00 miles (15,676.59 km) WSW | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 9,738.17 miles (15,672.03 km) WSW | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 9,727.70 miles (15,655.17 km) WSW | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 9,723.24 miles (15,648.00 km) SW | King Island Airport (KNS) | Currie, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 15 | 9,710.84 miles (15,628.05 km) WSW | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |