Nonstop flight route between Wichita Falls, Texas, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(33°59'20"N by 98°29'30"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from SPS to RCA:
743.30 miles (1,196.22 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SPS Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about SPS
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to SPS
- List of Nearest Airports to SPS
- Map of Furthest Airports from SPS
- List of Furthest Airports from SPS
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCA
- List of Nearest Airports to RCA
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCA
- List of Furthest Airports from RCA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS), Wichita Falls, Texas, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 743 miles (or 1,196 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 Sheppard Air Force Base and Ellsworth Air Force Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SPS / KSPS |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Wichita Falls, Texas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°59'20"N by 98°29'30"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from SPS |
| More Information: | SPS Maps & Info |
Arrival 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 |
Facts about Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS):
- In addition to being known as "Sheppard Air Force Base", another name for SPS is "Sheppard AFB".
- The furthest airport from Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,952 miles (17,626 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Additionally, officers from all 13 participating nations fill subordinate leadership positions throughout the wing.
- Sheppard Air Force Base is named in honor of Senator John Morris Sheppard of Texas, chairman of the Senate Military Affairs Committee from 1933 until his death on 9 April 1941.
- Sheppard Field reached its peak strength of 46,340 people while serving as a separation center for troops being discharged following World War II from September through November 1945.
- The closest airport to Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS) is Kickapoo Downtown Airport (KIP), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) S of SPS.
- It was officially opened as an Army Air Corps training center on 17 October 1941, following the arrival of the first military members on 14 June.
- The 3630th Flying Training Wing was activated in 1965, and it assumed the helicopter training program.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- 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 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.
- Ellsworth AFB was established in 1941 as Rapid City Army Air Base.
- Air Defense Command deactivated the Ellsworth radar site on 15 August 1962 and the 740th was discontinued.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956.
- When operations resumed in 1947 the base was a new United States Air Force asset.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 8.87 miles (14.27 km) S | Kickapoo Downtown Airport (KIP) | Wichita Falls, Texas, United States |     |
| 2 | 37.70 miles (60.67 km) NW | Frederick Regional Airport (FDR) | Frederick, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 3 | 40.23 miles (64.74 km) N | Lawton–Fort Sill Regional Airport (LAW) | Lawton, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 4 | 45.08 miles (72.55 km) NE | Halliburton Field (DUC) | Duncan, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 5 | 45.54 miles (73.29 km) SSW | Olney Municipal Airport (ONY) | Olney, Texas, United States | |
| 6 | 45.95 miles (73.94 km) N | Henry Post Army Airfield (FSI) | Fort Sill, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 7 | 64.44 miles (103.70 km) NW | Altus Air Force Base (LTS) | Altus, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 8 | 68.83 miles (110.77 km) NW | Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport (AXS) | Altus, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 9 | 76.24 miles (122.70 km) NNW | Hobart Regional Airport (HBR) | Hobart, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 10 | 77.91 miles (125.38 km) ESE | Gainesville Municipal Airport (GLE) | Gainesville, Texas, United States | |
| 11 | 79.12 miles (127.33 km) E | Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport (AHD) | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 12 | 82.18 miles (132.26 km) NNE | Chickasha Municipal Airport (CHK) | Chickasha, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 13 | 86.91 miles (139.87 km) ENE | Ardmore Municipal Airport (ADM) | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | |
| 14 | 87.05 miles (140.09 km) SSE | Mineral Wells Airport (MWL) | Mineral Wells, Texas, United States | |
| 15 | 96.71 miles (155.64 km) SE | Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,952.14 miles (17,625.72 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,705.81 miles (17,229.28 km) ESE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 10,648.35 miles (17,136.81 km) SW | Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK) | Cocos Islands, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,624.25 miles (17,098.03 km) ESE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 5 | 10,612.02 miles (17,078.34 km) ESE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 6 | 10,520.50 miles (16,931.06 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,500.62 miles (16,899.06 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,481.04 miles (16,867.56 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,468.99 miles (16,848.16 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,466.62 miles (16,844.35 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,465.64 miles (16,842.77 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,455.01 miles (16,825.67 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,454.65 miles (16,825.09 km) W | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,450.97 miles (16,819.16 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,446.19 miles (16,811.47 km) W | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 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 | |