Nonstop flight route between Airlie Beach, Australia and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(20°16'36"S by 148°45'19"E)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from WSY to RCA:
8,071.84 miles (12,990.33 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- WSY Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about WSY
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to WSY
- List of Nearest Airports to WSY
- Map of Furthest Airports from WSY
- List of Furthest Airports from WSY
- 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 Whitsunday Airport (WSY), Airlie Beach, Australia and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,072 miles (or 12,990 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 Whitsunday 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 Whitsunday 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:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | WSY / YWHI |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Airlie Beach, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 20°16'36"S by 148°45'19"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Jeffrey Ruddell |
| Airport Type: | Private |
| Elevation: | 40 feet (12 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from WSY |
| More Information: | WSY 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 Whitsunday Airport (WSY):
- The closest airport to Whitsunday Airport (WSY) is Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI), which is located only 14 miles (22 kilometers) ESE of WSY.
- Whitsunday Airport (WSY) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Whitsunday Airport (WSY) is Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO), which is located 11,982 miles (19,283 kilometers) away in Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde.
- Because of Whitsunday Airport's relatively low elevation of 40 feet, planes can take off or land at Whitsunday 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.
- In addition to being known as "Whitsunday Airport", another name for WSY is "Shute Harbour Airport".
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- 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 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 addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- 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.
- On 15 July 1945, the 225th AAFBU was inactivated and Rapid City AAB was placed on standby status as the Army Air Forces began to demobilize.
- 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 13.91 miles (22.39 km) ESE | Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) | Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia |     |
| 2 | 20.04 miles (32.25 km) SW | Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) | Proserpine, Queensland, Australia | |
| 3 | 39.33 miles (63.30 km) WNW | Bowen Airport (ZBO) | Bowen, Queensland, Australia | |
| 4 | 67.65 miles (108.87 km) SSE | Mackay Airport (MKY) | Mackay, Queensland, Australia | |
| 5 | 130.58 miles (210.15 km) SSW | Moranbah Airport (MOV) | Moranbah, Queensland, Australia | |
| 6 | 147.47 miles (237.32 km) WNW | Townsville Airport (TSV) | Townsville, Queensland, Australia | |
| 7 | 161.78 miles (260.36 km) W | Charters Towers Airport (CXT) | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | |
| 8 | 164.00 miles (263.94 km) S | Dysart Airport (DYA) | Dysart, Queensland, Australia | |
| 9 | 174.61 miles (281.00 km) S | Middlemount Airport (MMM) | Middlemount, Queensland, Australia | |
| 10 | 187.30 miles (301.43 km) SSW | Clermont Airport (CMQ) | Clermont, Queensland, Australia | |
| 11 | 229.86 miles (369.92 km) S | Blackwater Airport (BLT) | Blackwater, Queensland, Australia | |
| 12 | 230.35 miles (370.72 km) S | Emerald Airport (EMD) | Emerald, Queensland, Australia | |
| 13 | 234.89 miles (378.02 km) NW | Dunk Island Airport (DKI) | Dunk Island, Queensland, Australia | |
| 14 | 241.22 miles (388.20 km) SSE | Rockhampton Airport (ROK) | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia | |
| 15 | 271.25 miles (436.54 km) SSW | Alpha Airport (ABH) | Alpha, Queensland, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,981.65 miles (19,282.55 km) WNW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,966.90 miles (19,258.81 km) WNW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,914.28 miles (19,174.13 km) WNW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,856.20 miles (19,080.66 km) NW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,856.11 miles (19,080.51 km) NW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,841.03 miles (19,056.24 km) WNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 11,818.49 miles (19,019.98 km) WNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 8 | 11,806.68 miles (19,000.96 km) NW | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,800.96 miles (18,991.76 km) WNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,519.53 miles (18,538.84 km) W | La Güera Airport (ZLG) | La Güera, Western Sahara | |
| 11 | 11,516.65 miles (18,534.20 km) W | Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB) | Nouadhibou, Mauritania | |
| 12 | 11,453.63 miles (18,432.78 km) WNW | Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR) | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 13 | 11,428.02 miles (18,391.57 km) WNW | Dakhla Airport (VIL) | Dakhla, Western Sahara | |
| 14 | 11,427.71 miles (18,391.06 km) W | Nouakchott International Airport (NKC) | Nouakchott, Mauritania | |
| 15 | 11,423.93 miles (18,385.00 km) WNW | Saint-Louis Airport (XLS) | Saint-Louis, Senegal | |
| 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 | |