Nonstop flight route between Chevak, Alaska, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Chevak Airport (VAK), Chevak, Alaska, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,739 miles (or 4,408 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 Chevak Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base, 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 Chevak Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Chevak Airport (VAK):

• Chevak Airport (VAK) has 2 runways.
• Because of Chevak Airport's relatively low elevation of 75 feet, planes can take off or land at Chevak 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 Chevak Airport (VAK) is Hooper Bay Airport (HPB), which is located only 18 miles (29 kilometers) W of VAK.
• The furthest airport from Chevak Airport (VAK) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,523 miles (16,935 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.

Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):

• On 2 January 1942, the U.S.
• Ellsworth AFB was established in 1941 as Rapid City Army Air Base.
• The Titan I's life span was short in western South Dakota.
• Air Defense Command activated the 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Rapid City AFB on 1 February 1953 under the ADC 31st Air Division.
• 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 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.
• The installation changed names a few more times during its early years.
• In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".