Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Hassi Messaoud, Algeria:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport (HME), Hassi Messaoud, Algeria would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,866 miles (or 7,830 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 Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem 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 Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem 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 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.
• 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 closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• In October 1942, the flight training was changed to Advanced flying training and AT-6 Texan single-engine and Beech AT-10 twin-engine trainers were used.
• 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.
• On 23 September 1949 the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was transferred to the 20th from the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Langley AFB Virginia.
• As a result of the end of the Cold War, the Air Force made several dramatic changes with the inactivation and re-designation of wings and their units.
• 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 Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport (HME):

• Because of Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport's relatively low elevation of 459 feet, planes can take off or land at Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem 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.
• Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport (HME) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport", other names for HME include "Base d'Hassi Messaoud (Hassi Messaoud)" and "Aéroport de Hassi Messaoud / Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem".
• The closest airport to Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport (HME) is Guemar Airport (ELU), which is located 133 miles (213 kilometers) NNE of HME.
• The furthest airport from Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport (HME) is Gisborne Airport (GIS), which is located 11,770 miles (18,941 kilometers) away in Gisborne, New Zealand.