Nonstop flight route between Wichita Falls, Texas, United States and King Salmon, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS), Wichita Falls, Texas, United States and King Salmon Airport (AKN), King Salmon, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,121 miles (or 5,023 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 Sheppard Air Force Base and King Salmon Airport, 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 Sheppard Air Force Base and King Salmon Airport. 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 Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS):

• In addition to being known as "Sheppard Air Force Base", another name for SPS is "Sheppard AFB".
• During World War II, then-Sheppard Field conducted basic training, and it also trained glider mechanics, technical and flying training instructors and B-29 Superfortress flight engineers.
• The Air Force School of Health Care Sciences offered training in dentistry, medicine, nursing, and health-services administration.
• The host unit on Sheppard Air Force Base is the 82nd Training Wing whose mission makes it the most diversified training base within the Air Education and Training Command.
• The aircraft mechanics school was transferred to Sheppard from Keesler AFB, Mississippi in April 1949 to make room for expansion of electronic training at that base.
• The furthest airport from Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,952 miles (17,626 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• The closest airport to Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS) is Kickapoo Downtown Airport (KIP), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) S of SPS.

Facts about King Salmon Airport (AKN):

• The furthest airport from King Salmon Airport (AKN) is George Airport (GRJ), which is located 10,732 miles (17,271 kilometers) away in George, South Africa.
• The closest airport to King Salmon Airport (AKN) is South Naknek Airport (WSN), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) W of AKN.
• Because of King Salmon Airport's relatively low elevation of 73 feet, planes can take off or land at King Salmon 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.
• King Salmon Airport (AKN) has 3 runways.
• King Salmon Airport covers an area of 5,277 acres at an elevation of 73 feet above mean sea level.
• As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 42,310 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 40,637 enplanements in 2009, and 41,514 in 2010.
• On June 30, 1985, Douglas C-47B N168Z of Northern Peninsula Fisheries was substantially damaged at King Salmon when both engines failed on approach while the aircraft was on an executive flight from Homer Airport, Alaska.
• In addition to being known as "King Salmon Airport", other names for AKN include "(former Naknek Air Force Base)" and "(former Naknek Army Airfield)".