Nonstop flight route between Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia and Sumter, South Carolina, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash" (MCX), Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia and Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,202 miles (or 9,981 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 Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash" 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 Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash" 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:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash" (MCX):

• In addition to being known as "Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash"", other names for MCX include "Махачкалинский международный аэропорт "Уйташ"" and "МСХ".
• The furthest airport from Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash" (MCX) is Totegegie Airport (GMR), which is located 11,066 miles (17,808 kilometers) away in Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.
• Because of Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash"'s relatively low elevation of 12 feet, planes can take off or land at Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash" 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 Makhachkala International Airport "Uytash" (MCX) is Zaqatala International Airport (ZTU), which is located 100 miles (161 kilometers) SSW of MCX.

Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):

• Shaw Air Force Base is named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lieutenant Ervin David Shaw.
• After the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate military branch in September 1947, Shaw Army Airfield was renamed Shaw Air Force Base, on 13 January 1948 and the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated on 15 August 1947 with the implementation of the Hobson Plan.
• Shaw AFB is home base of the USAF 20th Fighter Wing, which flies F-16CJ Fighting Falcons.
• The squadrons flew the P-61 Black Widow in Europe with Ninth Air Force during World War II, and were reassigned back to the United States after the end of hostilities.
• On 25 June 1953, the 66th TRW departed Shaw, being reassigned to Sembach Air Base, West Germany.
• 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.
• Following Desert Storm, the 19th and 33d Tactical Fighter Squadrons deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, a coalition effort to enforce the Iraqi "No Fly Zone" south of the 32nd parallel north.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• The 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.