Nonstop flight route between Half Moon Bay, California, United States and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF), Half Moon Bay, California, United States and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,150 miles (or 5,070 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 Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip 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 Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip 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 Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF):

• Because of Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip's relatively low elevation of 66 feet, planes can take off or land at Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip 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 Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF) is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) NE of HAF.
• The airport hosts an annual benefit event in April, Pacific Coast Dream Machines, which features aircraft and automobiles.
• Following the end of World War II, San Mateo County acquired the airport from the Navy in 1947.
• Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,375 miles (18,307 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• In 1966 the Air Defense Command 9th Air Division assumed jurisdiction of the base.
• 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.
• On 28 May 1943, a small detachment of Alaskan Scouts began reconnaissance of Shemya, a small, flat, uninhabited island 35 miles to the east of Attu.
• 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.
• The news of the surrender of the Japanese was met with enthusiasm, the biggest topic was "When do we go home?".
• 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.
• 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.