Nonstop flight route between Valaparaiso (near Fort Walton Beach), Florida, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(30°28'59"N by 86°31'31"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from VPS to RCA:
1,305.87 miles (2,101.59 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- VPS Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about VPS
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to VPS
- List of Nearest Airports to VPS
- Map of Furthest Airports from VPS
- List of Furthest Airports from VPS
- 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 Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS), Valaparaiso (near Fort Walton Beach), Florida, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,306 miles (or 2,102 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 Northwest Florida Regional Airport 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: | VPS / KVPS |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Valaparaiso (near Fort Walton Beach), Florida, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 30°28'59"N by 86°31'31"W |
| Area Served: | Fort Walton Beach, Destin |
| Airport Type: | Public / Military |
| Elevation: | 87 feet (27 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VPS |
| More Information: | VPS 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 Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS):
- Access to the terminal is off of State Road 85.
- The closest airport to Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) is Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (DSI), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) SSE of VPS.
- The furthest airport from Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) is Shark Bay Airport (MJK), which is located 11,174 miles (17,983 kilometers) away in Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia.
- In addition to being known as "Northwest Florida Regional Airport", another name for VPS is "Eglin Air Force Base".
- Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) has 2 runways.
- Because of Northwest Florida Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 87 feet, planes can take off or land at Northwest Florida Regional 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- 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.
- Rapid City AAB was reactivated on 11 October 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Force.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 6.59 miles (10.61 km) SSE | Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (DSI) | Destin, Florida, United States |     |
| 2 | 11.54 miles (18.57 km) N | Duke FieldEglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #3 (EGI) | Crestview, Florida, United States | |
| 3 | 20.42 miles (32.86 km) N | Bob Sikes Airport (CEW) | Crestview, Florida, United States | |
| 4 | 33.90 miles (54.56 km) WNW | NAS Whiting Field - North (NSE) | Milton, Florida, United States | |
| 5 | 39.39 miles (63.39 km) W | Pensacola International Airport (PNS) | Pensacola, Florida, United States | |
| 6 | 44.33 miles (71.34 km) E | Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) | Panama City, Florida, United States | |
| 7 | 47.34 miles (76.19 km) W | Naval Air Station PensacolaForrest Sherman Field (NPA) | Pensacola, Florida, United States | |
| 8 | 48.41 miles (77.90 km) W | NOLF Saufley Field (NUN) | Pensacola, Florida, United States | |
| 9 | 53.61 miles (86.28 km) ESE | Panama City–Bay County International Airport (PFN) | Panama City, Florida, United States | |
| 10 | 63.15 miles (101.62 km) ESE | Tyndall Air Force Base (PAM) | Panama City, Florida, United States | |
| 11 | 66.44 miles (106.93 km) W | NOLF Barin (NHX) | Foley, Alabama, United States | |
| 12 | 67.51 miles (108.64 km) NNE | Enterprise Municipal Airport (ETS) | Enterprise, Alabama, United States | |
| 13 | 69.62 miles (112.05 km) W | Jack Edwards Airport (GUF) | Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States | |
| 14 | 72.91 miles (117.34 km) NE | Cairns Army Airfield (AAF) (OZR) | Fort Rucker/Ozark, Alabama, United States | |
| 15 | 75.76 miles (121.93 km) NE | Lowe Army Heliport (AHP) (LOR) | Fort Rucker / Ozark, Alabama, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,174.16 miles (17,983.03 km) W | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,168.93 miles (17,974.60 km) W | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,158.28 miles (17,957.47 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,154.66 miles (17,951.65 km) S | Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK) | Cocos Islands, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,152.83 miles (17,948.70 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,152.56 miles (17,948.27 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,143.99 miles (17,934.48 km) WSW | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,136.89 miles (17,923.04 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,131.40 miles (17,914.21 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,122.19 miles (17,899.38 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,111.54 miles (17,882.24 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,106.25 miles (17,873.74 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,105.82 miles (17,873.03 km) W | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,091.58 miles (17,850.12 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,084.85 miles (17,839.29 km) W | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, 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 | |