Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Elfin Cove, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Elfin Cove Seaplane Base (ELV), Elfin Cove, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,036 miles (or 4,886 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 Elfin Cove Seaplane Base, 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 Elfin Cove Seaplane Base. 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 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.
• Over the next four decades, the squadrons under the 363d TRW changed frequently.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp.
• 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.

Facts about Elfin Cove Seaplane Base (ELV):

• The furthest airport from Elfin Cove Seaplane Base (ELV) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,567 miles (17,006 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• Because of Elfin Cove Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Elfin Cove Seaplane Base 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.
• Elfin Cove Seaplane Base (ELV) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Elfin Cove Seaplane Base (ELV) is Gustavus Airport (GST), which is located 28 miles (45 kilometers) NE of ELV.
• Elfin Cove Seaplane Base is a state-owned public-use seaplane base located in Elfin Cove, on Chichagof Island in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area of the U.S.