Nonstop flight route between Surgut, Russia and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Surgut Airport (SGC), Surgut, Russia and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,448 miles (or 5,548 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 Surgut 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 Surgut 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 Surgut Airport (SGC):

• The furthest airport from Surgut Airport (SGC) is Presidente Carlos Ibáñez International Airport (PUQ), which is located 11,002 miles (17,707 kilometers) away in Punta Arenas, Chile.
• In addition to being known as "Surgut Airport", another name for SGC is "Аэропорт Сургут".
• Because of Surgut Airport's relatively low elevation of 200 feet, planes can take off or land at Surgut 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.
• Surgut Airport (SGC) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Surgut Airport (SGC) is Nefteyugansk Airport (NFG), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) WSW of SGC.

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• The aerial photos taken on the raid showed the Japanese were building up forces in the area, transferring aircraft presumably from air bases on Hokkaido.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• The limited resources assigned to the Eleventh Air Force meant only a limited number of missions could be carried out over the Kuriles.
• 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.
• 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.
• Shemya has been the scene of two major earthquakes.
• The Korean War brought extensive use by the Military Air Transport Service for the logistical support of Korea and Japan.
• A second attack by B-24 Liberators was launched from Alexai Point and Shemya on 18 July.
• Jurisdiction of Shemya AFB was transferred from the Aerospace Defense Command to the Strategic Air Command when the former was inactivated on 1 October 1979.