Nonstop flight route between Beirut, Lebanon and Sumter, South Carolina, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Beirut Air Base (BEY), Beirut, Lebanon and Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,181 miles (or 9,947 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 Beirut Air Base and Shaw 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 Beirut Air Base and Shaw 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 Beirut Air Base (BEY):

• The military base is currently the home of the Tenth Squadron and Eleventh Squadron, which operate Bell UH-1H Hueys.
• The closest airport to Beirut Air Base (BEY) is Kiryat Shmona Airport (KSW), which is located 42 miles (68 kilometers) S of BEY.
• Because of Beirut Air Base's relatively low elevation of 87 feet, planes can take off or land at Beirut Air Base 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 furthest airport from Beirut Air Base (BEY) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,547 miles (18,582 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
• Currently, the Lebanese Air Force occupies part of the west end of the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport and has been the base of most of the helicopter force for almost 50 years, which include the Hawker Hunters, Fouga Magisters and other aircraft during certain periods.
• Beirut Air Base (BEY) has 2 runways.
• In addition to being known as "Beirut Air Base", another name for BEY is "قاعدة بيروت الجوية".

Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):

• It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is one of only two air bases in CONUS with an active railroad line.
• The squadrons flew the P-61 Black Widow in Europe with Ninth Air Force during World War II, and were reassigned back to the United States after the end of hostilities.
• The 363d TFW received its first F-16 on 26 March 1982.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• The furthest airport from Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,545 miles (18,580 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• The 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.