Nonstop flight route between Santa Maria, California, United States and Kangnung (Gangneung), South Korea:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, United States and Gangneung Airbase (KAG), Kangnung (Gangneung), South Korea would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,734 miles (or 9,227 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 Santa Maria Public Airport and Gangneung Airbase, 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 Santa Maria Public Airport and Gangneung Airbase. 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 Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX):

• Because of Santa Maria Public Airport's relatively low elevation of 261 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Maria Public 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 "Santa Maria Public Airport", another name for SMX is "Capt. G. Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria Army Airfield".
• During its use by the military Santa Maria AAF also controlled Estrella Army Airfield, near Paso Robles as an auxiliary airfield to support the pilot training activity.
• The closest airport to Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) SSW of SMX.
• The furthest airport from Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,466 miles (18,453 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
• Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) has 2 runways.
• The original Allan Hancock Field was established in 1927 at another location, between Jones Street to the north, Stowell Road to the south, Bradley Road to the east and Miller Street to the west.
• A 4,000-square-foot baggage claim facility opened in 2007.

Facts about Gangneung Airbase (KAG):

• The closest airport to Gangneung Airbase (KAG) is Sokcho Airport (SHO), which is located 33 miles (53 kilometers) NW of KAG.
• The furthest airport from Gangneung Airbase (KAG) is Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport (PDP), which is nearly antipodal to Gangneung Airbase (meaning Gangneung Airbase is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport), and is located 12,136 miles (19,531 kilometers) away in Maldonado/Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay.
• In addition to being known as "Gangneung Airbase", another name for KAG is "강릉공항".
• Because of Gangneung Airbase's relatively low elevation of 35 feet, planes can take off or land at Gangneung Airbase 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.
• During the Korean War, the USAF designated the base as K-18.
• Gangneung Airbase (KAG) currently has only 1 runway.