Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Chania, Greece:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ), Chania, Greece would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,605 miles (or 9,020 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis", 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis". 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 20th FG was reassigned to Langley AFB, Virginia on 1 December 1951 in preparation for a permanent overseas deployment to RAF Wethersfield, England to support NATO.
• Shaw AFB is home base of the USAF 20th Fighter Wing, which flies F-16CJ Fighting Falcons.
• By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• Shaw Air Force Base is named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lieutenant Ervin David Shaw.
• 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.
• Jurisdiction of Shaw was again transferred to Tactical Air Command on 23 March 1946.

Facts about Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ):

• Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,492 miles (18,495 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
• Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" is an international airport located near Souda Bay on the Akrotiri Peninsula of the Greek island of Crete, serving the city of Chania, 14 kilometres away.
• The closest airport to Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) is Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER), which is located 60 miles (96 kilometers) ESE of CHQ.
• In addition to being known as "Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis"", other names for CHQ include "Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Χανίων, "Δασκαλογιάννης"" and "Kratikos Aerolimenas Chanion Daskalogiannis".
• Because of Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis"'s relatively low elevation of 490 feet, planes can take off or land at Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" 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.
• Maleme Airport was constructed by the British Military, shortly before the Second World War.
• The airport is also intensively used by the Hellenic Air Force.