Nonstop flight route between Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States and Sumter, South Carolina, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Port Alsworth Airport (PTA), Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States and Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,673 miles (or 5,911 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 Port Alsworth 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 Port Alsworth 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:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Port Alsworth Airport (PTA):

• The closest airport to Port Alsworth Airport (PTA) is Nondalton Airport (NNL), which is located 24 miles (38 kilometers) SW of PTA.
• Because of Port Alsworth Airport's relatively low elevation of 280 feet, planes can take off or land at Port Alsworth 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.
• In addition to being known as "Port Alsworth Airport", other names for PTA include "TPO" and "Port Alsworth".
• Port Alsworth Airport (PTA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Port Alsworth Airport (PTA) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,625 miles (17,100 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):

• It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is one of only two air bases in CONUS with an active railroad line.
• For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp.
• 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.
• On 1 April 1951, the 363d TRW was transferred to Shaw from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia The 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing would remain at Shaw, under various designations, for the next 43 years.
• Flying activities at the field began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.