Nonstop flight route between La Unión, Honduras[disambiguation needed] and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between La Unión Airport (LUI), La Unión, Honduras[disambiguation needed] and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,041 miles (or 14,550 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 La Unión 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 La Unión 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 La Unión Airport (LUI):

• La Unión Airport (LUI) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of La Unión Airport's relatively low elevation of 528 feet, planes can take off or land at La Unión 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 furthest airport from La Unión Airport (LUI) is Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY), which is nearly antipodal to La Unión Airport (meaning La Unión Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport), and is located 12,412 miles (19,976 kilometers) away in Xianyang, Shaanxi, China.
• In addition to being known as "La Unión Airport", other names for LUI include "La Unión Airport (Marchigüe)", "Aeropuerto La Unión" and "SCLU".
• The closest airport to La Unión Airport (LUI) is Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), which is located 83 miles (134 kilometers) NE of LUI.

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• On 1 April 1995, Eareckson AS was converted to contractor operations and maintenance, providing all support on the island.
• Shemya also continued to support the Great Circle Route for MATS and later Military Airlift Command transports between Japan and Elmendorf AFB.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• A second attack by B-24 Liberators was launched from Alexai Point and Shemya on 18 July.
• 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.
• On 10 July 1943, eight B-25 Mitchells from the 77th Bombardment Squadron left Adak AAF and refueled at Alexai Point AAF on Attu.
• 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.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The limited resources assigned to the Eleventh Air Force meant only a limited number of missions could be carried out over the Kuriles.