Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Awasa, Ethiopia:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Awasa International Airport (AWA), Awasa, Ethiopia would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,549 miles (or 12,149 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 Shaw Air Force Base and Awasa International 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 Shaw Air Force Base and Awasa International 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 Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):

• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• On 9 August 1990, the 17th and 33d TFS of 363d TFW became the first F-16 squadrons to deploy to the United Arab Emirates in Operation Desert Shield.
• 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.
• Shaw AFB is home base of the USAF 20th Fighter Wing, which flies F-16CJ Fighting Falcons.
• 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.
• On 23 September 1949 the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was transferred to the 20th from the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Langley AFB Virginia.
• The group initially conducted training with two squadrons flying the Republic RF-84F "Thunderflash" and two squadrons Group, was a part of Strategic Air Command from July 1947 – May 1951, at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana as an Air Force Reserve corollary unit under the guidance of active duty units in order to train and maintain currency in reconnaissance operations for its reserve personnel.

Facts about Awasa International Airport (AWA):

• Awasa International Airport (AWA) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Awasa International Airport's high elevation of 5,149 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at AWA. Combined with a high temperature, this could make AWA a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• The closest airport to Awasa International Airport (AWA) is Arba Minch Airport (AMH), which is located 95 miles (152 kilometers) SW of AWA.
• The furthest airport from Awasa International Airport (AWA) is Atuona Airport (AUQ), which is nearly antipodal to Awasa International Airport (meaning Awasa International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Atuona Airport), and is located 12,184 miles (19,609 kilometers) away in Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia.