Nonstop flight route between Boufarik, Algeria and Sumter, South Carolina, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Boufarik Air Base (QFD), Boufarik, Algeria and Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,546 miles (or 7,317 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 Boufarik Air Base 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 Boufarik Air Base 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 Boufarik Air Base (QFD):

• The furthest airport from Boufarik Air Base (QFD) is Gisborne Airport (GIS), which is nearly antipodal to Boufarik Air Base (meaning Boufarik Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Gisborne Airport), and is located 12,131 miles (19,524 kilometers) away in Gisborne, New Zealand.
• Because of Boufarik Air Base's relatively low elevation of 335 feet, planes can take off or land at Boufarik Air Base 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 Boufarik Air Base (QFD) is Blida Airport (QLD), which is located only 4 miles (7 kilometers) SW of QFD.
• In addition to being known as "Boufarik Air Base", another name for QFD is "Boufarik Airport (Boufarik)".
• Boufarik Air Base (QFD) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):

• On March 23, 1953, the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was activated at Shaw.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• The 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.