Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Biarritz, France:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ), Biarritz, France would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,147 miles (or 6,673 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 Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne 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 Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne 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):

• By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.
• Shaw Field was activated on 30 August 1941 and placed under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Corps Southeast Air Corps Training Center.
• 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 closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• 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.
• 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 Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ):

• In addition to being known as "Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport", another name for BIQ is "Aéroport de Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne".
• The furthest airport from Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ) is Hood Aerodrome (MRO), which is nearly antipodal to Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (meaning Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Hood Aerodrome), and is located 12,211 miles (19,652 kilometers) away in Masterton, New Zealand.
• Because of Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport's relatively low elevation of 245 feet, planes can take off or land at Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne 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.
• The closest airport to Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ) is San Sebastián Airport (EAS), which is located only 15 miles (25 kilometers) WSW of BIQ.
• Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ) currently has only 1 runway.