Nonstop flight route between Yinchuan, Ningxia, China and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Yinchuan Hedong International Airport (INC), Yinchuan, Ningxia, China and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,293 miles (or 5,300 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 Yinchuan Hedong 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 Yinchuan Hedong 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 Yinchuan Hedong International Airport (INC):

• Yinchuan Hedong International Airport (INC) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Yinchuan Hedong International Airport (INC) is Alxa Left Banner Bayanhot Airport (AXF), which is located 54 miles (87 kilometers) NW of INC.
• The furthest airport from Yinchuan Hedong International Airport (INC) is Maquehue Airport (ZCO), which is nearly antipodal to Yinchuan Hedong International Airport (meaning Yinchuan Hedong International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Maquehue Airport), and is located 12,376 miles (19,917 kilometers) away in Temuco, Araucanía, Chile.
• In addition to being known as "Yinchuan Hedong International Airport", other names for INC include "银川河东国际机场" and "Yínchuān Hédōng Guójì Jīchǎng".

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (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.
• Eareckson Air Station is located on the western tip of Alaska's Aleutian islands near the larger island of Attu, and is located approximately 1500 miles southwest of Anchorage.
• The news of the surrender of the Japanese was met with enthusiasm, the biggest topic was "When do we go home?".
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• The mission of Eleventh Air Force was to take advantage of the new airfields on Shemya and Attu, and carry out offensive operations against the enemy forces in the Kuriles.
• 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.
• Shemya also continued to support the Great Circle Route for MATS and later Military Airlift Command transports between Japan and Elmendorf AFB.
• 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 aerial photos taken on the raid showed the Japanese were building up forces in the area, transferring aircraft presumably from air bases on Hokkaido.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• Shemya has been the scene of two major earthquakes.
• There is also an NDB, TACAN and a VOR on the island.