Nonstop flight route between Kenema, Sierra Leone and Sumter, South Carolina, United States:
Departure Airport:
(7°53'49"N by 11°10'24"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°58'23"N by 80°28'22"W)
Distance from KEN to SSC:
4,730.15 miles (7,612.42 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- KEN Airport Information
- SSC Airport Information
- Facts about KEN
- Facts about SSC
- Map of Nearest Airports to KEN
- List of Nearest Airports to KEN
- Map of Furthest Airports from KEN
- List of Furthest Airports from KEN
- Map of Nearest Airports to SSC
- List of Nearest Airports to SSC
- Map of Furthest Airports from SSC
- List of Furthest Airports from SSC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Kenema Airport (KEN), Kenema, Sierra Leone and Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,730 miles (or 7,612 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 Kenema Airport 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 Kenema Airport 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:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | KEN / GFKE |
| Airport Name: | Kenema Airport |
| Location: | Kenema, Sierra Leone |
| GPS Coordinates: | 7°53'49"N by 11°10'24"W |
| Area Served: | Kenema |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 485 feet (148 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from KEN |
| More Information: | KEN Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SSC / KSSC |
| Airport Name: | Shaw Air Force Base |
| Location: | Sumter, South Carolina, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°58'23"N by 80°28'22"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from SSC |
| More Information: | SSC Maps & Info |
Facts about Kenema Airport (KEN):
- Kenema Airport (KEN) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Kenema Airport's relatively low elevation of 485 feet, planes can take off or land at Kenema 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.
- The closest airport to Kenema Airport (KEN) is Bo Airport (KBS), which is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) W of KEN.
- The furthest airport from Kenema Airport (KEN) is Mota Lava Airport (MTV), which is nearly antipodal to Kenema Airport (meaning Kenema Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Mota Lava Airport), and is located 12,031 miles (19,362 kilometers) away in Mota Lava, Vanuatu.
Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):
- In addition to the 363d TRW, Headquarters Ninth Air Force was transferred to Shaw from Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina on 1 September 1954.
- The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
- Flying activities at the field began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants.
- The 20th FG was reassigned to Langley AFB, Virginia on 1 December 1951 in preparation for a permanent overseas deployment to RAF Wethersfield, England to support NATO.
- 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.
- By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 40.37 miles (64.97 km) W | Bo Airport (KBS) | Bo, Sierra Leone |     |
| 2 | 50.36 miles (81.05 km) N | Yengema Airport (WYE) | Yengema, Kono District, Sierra Leone | |
| 3 | 72.01 miles (115.89 km) ENE | Foya Airport (FOY) | Foya, Liberia | |
| 4 | 82.63 miles (132.98 km) W | Gbangbatok Airport (GBK) | Gbangbatok, Sierra Leone | |
| 5 | 95.47 miles (153.64 km) WSW | Sherbro International Airport (BTE) | Bonthe, Sierra Leone | |
| 6 | 100.64 miles (161.96 km) ENE | Voinjama Airport (VOI) | Voinjama, Liberia | |
| 7 | 112.95 miles (181.78 km) NE | Kissidougou Airport (KSI) | Kissidougou, Guinea | |
| 8 | 114.69 miles (184.58 km) SSE | Spriggs Payne Airport (MLW) | Monrovia, Liberia | |
| 9 | 122.58 miles (197.27 km) N | Kabala Airport (KBA) | Kabala, Sierra Leone | |
| 10 | 124.70 miles (200.68 km) ENE | Macenta Airport (MCA) | Macenta, Guinea | |
| 11 | 127.68 miles (205.48 km) SSE | Roberts International Airport Roberts Field (ROB) | Monrovia, Liberia | |
| 12 | 138.04 miles (222.15 km) WNW | Hastings Airport (HGS) | Freetown, Sierra Leone | |
| 13 | 146.91 miles (236.43 km) WNW | Lungi International Airport (FNA) | Freetown, Sierra Leone | |
| 14 | 150.29 miles (241.87 km) N | Faranah Airport (FAA) | Faranah, Guinea | |
| 15 | 157.53 miles (253.51 km) SSE | Buchanan Airport (UCN) | Buchanan, Liberia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,031.11 miles (19,362.14 km) S | Mota Lava Airport (MTV) | Mota Lava, Vanuatu | |
| 2 | 12,016.19 miles (19,338.14 km) SSE | Vanua Lava Airport (SLH) | Sola, Vanua Lava, Torba Province, Vanuatu | |
| 3 | 11,992.07 miles (19,299.32 km) S | Gaua Airport (ZGU) | Gaua, Torba, Vanuatu | |
| 4 | 11,950.22 miles (19,231.97 km) ESE | Ulawa Airport (RNA) | Arona, Ulawa Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 11,943.65 miles (19,221.39 km) S | Maewo-Naone Airport (MWF) | Maewo, Vanuatu | |
| 6 | 11,932.45 miles (19,203.38 km) ESE | Kirakira Airport (IRA) | Kirakira, Makira Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 7 | 11,921.57 miles (19,185.86 km) S | Longana Airport (LOD) | Longana, Ambae Island, Pénama Province, Vanuatu | |
| 8 | 11,912.27 miles (19,170.89 km) SSE | Nauru International Airport (INU) | Yaren, Nauru | |
| 9 | 11,911.53 miles (19,169.70 km) S | Sara Airport (SSR) | Sara, Vanuatu | |
| 10 | 11,900.01 miles (19,151.17 km) SSE | Santo-Pekoa International Airport (SON) | Luganville, Vanuatu | |
| 11 | 11,898.38 miles (19,148.54 km) E | Uru Harbour Airport (ATD) | Atoifi, Malaita, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 11,891.16 miles (19,136.92 km) E | Afutara Airport (AFT) | Afutara, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 11,884.47 miles (19,126.15 km) S | Lonorore Airport (LNE) | Lonorore, Pentecost Island, Pénama Province, Vanuatu | |
| 14 | 11,877.16 miles (19,114.39 km) E | Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport (AKS) | Auki / Gwaunaru'u, Solomon Islands | |
| 15 | 11,863.30 miles (19,092.09 km) S | Norsup Airport (NUS) | Norsup, Malakula island, Vanuatu | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 6.56 miles (10.56 km) ENE | Sumter Airport (SUM) | Sumter, South Carolina, United States | |
| 2 | 19.16 miles (30.84 km) W | McEntire Joint National Guard Base Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield CongareeCongaree Army Airfield (MMT) | Eastover, South Carolina, United States | |
| 3 | 22.10 miles (35.56 km) NNW | Woodward Field (CDN) | Camden, South Carolina, United States | |
| 4 | 29.94 miles (48.18 km) W | Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport (CUB) | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | |
| 5 | 35.93 miles (57.83 km) NE | Hartsville Regional Airport (HVS) | Hartsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 6 | 37.14 miles (59.76 km) W | Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) | West Columbia (near Columbia), South Carolina, United States | |
| 7 | 42.02 miles (67.62 km) SSW | Orangeburg Municipal Airport (OGB) | Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States | |
| 8 | 45.30 miles (72.90 km) ENE | Florence Regional Airport (FLO) | Florence, South Carolina, United States | |
| 9 | 58.98 miles (94.91 km) NNE | Cheraw Municipal Airport (HCW) | Cheraw, South Carolina, United States | |
| 10 | 61.52 miles (99.00 km) NE | Marlboro County Jetport (BTN) | Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 11 | 65.25 miles (105.02 km) ESE | Robert F. Swinnie Airport (ADR) | Andrews, South Carolina, United States | |
| 12 | 71.15 miles (114.51 km) ENE | Dillon County Airport (DLL) | Dillon, South Carolina, United States | |
| 13 | 72.21 miles (116.21 km) SW | Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL) | Barnwell, South Carolina, United States | |
| 14 | 73.09 miles (117.63 km) WSW | Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK) | Aiken, South Carolina, United States | |
| 15 | 73.32 miles (118.00 km) S | Lowcountry Regional Airport (RBW) | Walterboro, South Carolina, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,545.12 miles (18,580.03 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,526.46 miles (18,549.99 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,508.26 miles (18,520.70 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,499.92 miles (18,507.29 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,494.70 miles (18,498.88 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,487.36 miles (18,487.07 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,481.75 miles (18,478.04 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,474.49 miles (18,466.35 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,473.86 miles (18,465.34 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,462.29 miles (18,446.72 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,428.78 miles (18,392.80 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,419.93 miles (18,378.55 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,412.96 miles (18,367.34 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,397.61 miles (18,342.63 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,394.58 miles (18,337.76 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |