Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Elcho Island, Northern Territory, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(33°58'23"N by 80°28'22"W)
Arrival Airport:
(12°1'11"S by 135°34'11"E)
Distance from SSC to ELC:
9,711.35 miles (15,628.86 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SSC Airport Information
- ELC Airport Information
- Facts about SSC
- Facts about ELC
- Map of Nearest Airports to SSC
- List of Nearest Airports to SSC
- Map of Furthest Airports from SSC
- List of Furthest Airports from SSC
- Map of Nearest Airports to ELC
- List of Nearest Airports to ELC
- Map of Furthest Airports from ELC
- List of Furthest Airports from ELC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Elcho Island Airport (ELC), Elcho Island, Northern Territory, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,711 miles (or 15,629 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 Elcho Island 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 Elcho Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SSC / KSSC |
| Airport Name: | Shaw Air Force Base |
| Location: | Sumter, South Carolina, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°58'23"N by 80°28'22"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from SSC |
| More Information: | SSC Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ELC / YELD |
| Airport Name: | Elcho Island Airport |
| Location: | Elcho Island, Northern Territory, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 12°1'11"S by 135°34'11"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Marthakal Yolngu Airline |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 101 feet (31 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ELC |
| More Information: | ELC Maps & Info |
Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):
- For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp.
- The 20th Fighter Group was first equipped with North American P-51D, then exchanged its P-51's in February 1948 for F-84B Thunderjets, the first TAC group to receive operational F-84s.
- Upon activation at Shaw, the 20th FW assumed the personnel and equipment of the inactivated 363d Fighter Wing.
- 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 25 June 1953, the 66th TRW departed Shaw, being reassigned to Sembach Air Base, West Germany.
- 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.
Facts about Elcho Island Airport (ELC):
- The furthest airport from Elcho Island Airport (ELC) is Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport (CAY), which is located 11,701 miles (18,831 kilometers) away in Cayenne, French Guiana.
- Elcho Island Airport (ELC) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Elcho Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 101 feet, planes can take off or land at Elcho Island 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 Elcho Island Airport (ELC) is Lake Evella Airport (LEL), which is located 37 miles (59 kilometers) SSE of ELC.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 6.56 miles (10.56 km) ENE | Sumter Airport (SUM) | Sumter, South Carolina, United States |     |
| 2 | 19.16 miles (30.84 km) W | McEntire Joint National Guard Base Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield CongareeCongaree Army Airfield (MMT) | Eastover, South Carolina, United States | |
| 3 | 22.10 miles (35.56 km) NNW | Woodward Field (CDN) | Camden, South Carolina, United States | |
| 4 | 29.94 miles (48.18 km) W | Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport (CUB) | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | |
| 5 | 35.93 miles (57.83 km) NE | Hartsville Regional Airport (HVS) | Hartsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 6 | 37.14 miles (59.76 km) W | Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) | West Columbia (near Columbia), South Carolina, United States | |
| 7 | 42.02 miles (67.62 km) SSW | Orangeburg Municipal Airport (OGB) | Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States | |
| 8 | 45.30 miles (72.90 km) ENE | Florence Regional Airport (FLO) | Florence, South Carolina, United States | |
| 9 | 58.98 miles (94.91 km) NNE | Cheraw Municipal Airport (HCW) | Cheraw, South Carolina, United States | |
| 10 | 61.52 miles (99.00 km) NE | Marlboro County Jetport (BTN) | Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 11 | 65.25 miles (105.02 km) ESE | Robert F. Swinnie Airport (ADR) | Andrews, South Carolina, United States | |
| 12 | 71.15 miles (114.51 km) ENE | Dillon County Airport (DLL) | Dillon, South Carolina, United States | |
| 13 | 72.21 miles (116.21 km) SW | Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL) | Barnwell, South Carolina, United States | |
| 14 | 73.09 miles (117.63 km) WSW | Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK) | Aiken, South Carolina, United States | |
| 15 | 73.32 miles (118.00 km) S | Lowcountry Regional Airport (RBW) | Walterboro, South Carolina, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,545.12 miles (18,580.03 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,526.46 miles (18,549.99 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,508.26 miles (18,520.70 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,499.92 miles (18,507.29 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,494.70 miles (18,498.88 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,487.36 miles (18,487.07 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,481.75 miles (18,478.04 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,474.49 miles (18,466.35 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,473.86 miles (18,465.34 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,462.29 miles (18,446.72 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,428.78 miles (18,392.80 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,419.93 miles (18,378.55 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,412.96 miles (18,367.34 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,397.61 miles (18,342.63 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,394.58 miles (18,337.76 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 36.66 miles (59.00 km) SSE | Lake Evella Airport (LEL) | Gapuwiyak (Lake Evella), Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 2 | 45.99 miles (74.02 km) W | Milingimbi Airport (MGT) | Milingimbi Island, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 3 | 90.30 miles (145.33 km) W | Maningrida Airport (MNG) | Maningrida, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 4 | 147.77 miles (237.81 km) SSE | Groote Eylandt Airport (GTE) | Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 5 | 185.97 miles (299.29 km) WSW | Jabiru Airport (JAB) | Jabiru, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 6 | 217.11 miles (349.40 km) WNW | Croker Island Airport (CKI) | Croker Island, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 7 | 283.94 miles (456.96 km) S | Borroloola Airport (BOX) | Borroloola, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 8 | 307.60 miles (495.04 km) S | McArthur River Mine Airport (MCV) | McArthur River, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 9 | 318.10 miles (511.93 km) W | Darwin International Airport (DRW) | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 10 | 335.13 miles (539.34 km) W | Bathurst Island Airport (BRT) | Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 11 | 335.15 miles (539.37 km) W | Snake Bay Airport (SNB) | Milikapiti, Melville Island, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 12 | 350.69 miles (564.39 km) W | Garden Point Airport (GPN) | Pirlangimpi, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 13 | 408.76 miles (657.83 km) NE | Mopah Airport (MKQ) | Merauke, Papua, Indonesia | |
| 14 | 420.76 miles (677.15 km) NNW | Benjina-Nangasuri Airport (BJK) | Benjina, Muluku, Indonesia | |
| 15 | 424.71 miles (683.50 km) ESE | Aurukun Airport (AUU) | Aurukun, Queensland, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,701.28 miles (18,831.34 km) NE | Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport (CAY) | Cayenne, French Guiana | |
| 2 | 11,641.25 miles (18,734.73 km) ENE | Albina Airstrip (ABN) | Albina, Suriname | |
| 3 | 11,601.70 miles (18,671.08 km) NE | Saül Airport (XAU) | Saül, French Guiana | |
| 4 | 11,586.59 miles (18,646.77 km) ENE | Zorg en Hoop Airport (ORG) | Paramaribo, Suriname | |
| 5 | 11,573.69 miles (18,626.01 km) ENE | Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM) | Zanderij (near Paramaribo), Suriname | |
| 6 | 11,572.77 miles (18,624.52 km) NE | Stoelmans Eiland Airstrip (SMZ) | Stoelmans Eiland, Suriname | |
| 7 | 11,561.90 miles (18,607.03 km) NE | Maripasoula Airport (MPY) | Maripasoula, French Guiana | |
| 8 | 11,549.25 miles (18,586.67 km) NE | Drietabbetje Airstrip (DRJ) | Drietabbetje, Suriname | |
| 9 | 11,520.57 miles (18,540.51 km) ENE | Totness Airstrip (TOT) | Totness, Coronie, Suriname | |
| 10 | 11,519.39 miles (18,538.61 km) NE | Laduani Airstrip (LDO) | Ladouanie, Suriname | |
| 11 | 11,510.58 miles (18,524.44 km) NE | Botopasi Airstrip (BTO) | Botopasi, Suriname | |
| 12 | 11,500.13 miles (18,507.62 km) NE | Djoemoe Airstrip (DOE) | Djumu (Djoemoe), Suriname | |
| 13 | 11,498.81 miles (18,505.50 km) ENE | Wageningen Airstrip (AGI) | Wageningen, Suriname | |
| 14 | 11,492.71 miles (18,495.68 km) NNE | Macapá-Alberto Alcolumbre International Airport (MCP) | Macapá, Amapá, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,490.39 miles (18,491.94 km) NE | Cayana Airstrip (AAJ) | Awaradam, Suriname | |