Nonstop flight route between Fort Pierce, Florida, United States and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between St. Lucie County International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida, United States and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,326 miles (or 8,571 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 St. Lucie County International Airport and Eareckson Air Station, 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 St. Lucie County International Airport and Eareckson Air Station. 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 St. Lucie County International Airport (FPR):

• For the 12-month period ending January 15, 2009, the airport had 196,000 general aviation aircraft operations, an average of 537 per day.
• Because of St. Lucie County International Airport's relatively low elevation of 24 feet, planes can take off or land at St. Lucie County 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.
• That history of the airport dates back to 1921 when The Commercial Club of Fort Pierce built an airport where the local American Legion building now stands on U.S.
• Runway 10L-28R was completed early 2010 costing $15.3 million, the runway currently has no taxiways to parking therefore making it designated for touch and go operations.
• St. Lucie County International Airport (FPR) has 3 runways.
• The airport sees frequent use by various aviation flight schools in south Florida, including three based at the airport, for general aviation flight training traffic.
• The closest airport to St. Lucie County International Airport (FPR) is Vero Beach Municipal Airport (VRB), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) NNW of FPR.
• The current airport, originally named Fort Pierce Airport, was leased during World War II by the U.S.
• The furthest airport from St. Lucie County International Airport (FPR) is Shark Bay Airport (MJK), which is located 11,569 miles (18,619 kilometers) away in Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia.

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• After the disastrous attack, the focus of Eleventh Air Force was shifted to a defensive posture in the event of retaliatory attacks from the Japanese.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• On 6 April 1993, Shemya Air Force Base was renamed Eareckson Air Station.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,668 miles (17,168 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
• The closest airport to Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Casco Cove Coast Guard Station (ATU), which is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) WNW of SYA.
• Because of Eareckson Air Station's relatively low elevation of 97 feet, planes can take off or land at Eareckson Air Station 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 Korean War brought extensive use by the Military Air Transport Service for the logistical support of Korea and Japan.
• In 1966 the Air Defense Command 9th Air Division assumed jurisdiction of the base.
• The aerial photos taken on the raid showed the Japanese were building up forces in the area, transferring aircraft presumably from air bases on Hokkaido.