Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Nanwalek (English Bay), Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay Airport) (KEB), Nanwalek (English Bay), Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,595 miles (or 5,786 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 Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay 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 Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay 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):

• On 1 April 1945 jurisdiction of Shaw Field was transferred to First Air Force.
• 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.
• By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.
• Flying activities at the field began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants.
• It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is one of only two air bases in CONUS with an active railroad line.
• In addition to the 363d TRW, Headquarters Ninth Air Force was transferred to Shaw from Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina on 1 September 1954.
• On 25 June 1953, the 66th TRW departed Shaw, being reassigned to Sembach Air Base, West Germany.

Facts about Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay Airport) (KEB):

• This airport is considered the shortest runway in the USA used by US commuter airlines.
• Nanwalek Airport covers an area of 14 acres which contains one gravel runway measuring 1,850 x 50 ft.
• In addition to being known as "Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay Airport)", another name for KEB is "none".
• Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay Airport) (KEB) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay Airport) (KEB) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,680 miles (17,188 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• The closest airport to Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay Airport) (KEB) is Port Graham Airport (PGM), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) E of KEB.
• Because of Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay Airport)'s relatively low elevation of 27 feet, planes can take off or land at Nanwalek Airport (formerly English Bay 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.