Nonstop flight route between Vladivostok, Russia and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Vladivostok International Airport (VVO), Vladivostok, Russia and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,497 miles (or 8,847 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 Vladivostok International 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 Vladivostok International 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 Vladivostok International Airport (VVO):

• Federal and regional government announced plans to rebuild Vladivostok International Airport prior to the APEC Russia 2012 Summit on Russky Island, south of Vladivostok.
• The furthest airport from Vladivostok International Airport (VVO) is Astor Piazzolla International Airport (MDQ), which is located 11,803 miles (18,995 kilometers) away in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
• Vladivostok International Airport (VVO) has 4 runways.
• The Lake Springs airfield was designed for aircraft operating on regional routes.
• The Knevichi airfield was designed for all types of aircraft and has two hard surface runways.
• In addition to being known as "Vladivostok International Airport", another name for VVO is "Международный аэропорт «Владивосток»".
• Because of Vladivostok International Airport's relatively low elevation of 46 feet, planes can take off or land at Vladivostok International 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 Vladivostok International Airport (VVO) is Yanji Chaoyangchuan Airport (YNJ), which is located 141 miles (226 kilometers) WSW of VVO.
• The domestic Terminal B of the airport underwent complete renovation during 2005-2006, which made it one of the most comfortable and up-to-date airport terminals in Russia.

Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):

• Ellsworth AFB is 10 miles east of Rapid City, S.D.
• To provide air defense of the base, the United States Army established the Ellsworth AFB Defense Area in 1957 and constructed Nike-Ajax Surface-to-air missile sites for air defense.
• Ellsworth AFB was established in 1941 as Rapid City Army Air Base.
• 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.
• Internationally, the destruction of the Berlin Wall in October 1989 symbolized the imminent demise of the Soviet Union over the next several months.
• In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
• 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.
• The installation changed names a few more times during its early years.