Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and West Point, Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and West Point Village Seaplane Base (KWP), West Point, Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,664 miles (or 5,896 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 West Point Village 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 West Point Village 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):

• Flying activities at the field began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants.
• On 23 September 1949 the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was transferred to the 20th from the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Langley AFB Virginia.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• As a result of the August 1992 destruction of Homestead AFB Florida by Hurricane Andrew in September 1992, the 31st Fighter Wing's 309th Fighter Squadron was initially evacuated to Shaw AFB prior to the hurricane making landfall.
• 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.

Facts about West Point Village Seaplane Base (KWP):

• West Point Village Seaplane Base (KWP) currently has only 1 runway.
• West Point Village Seaplane Base has one seaplane landing area designated E/W with a water surface measuring 10,000 by 500 feet.
• Because of West Point Village Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at West Point Village 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.
• Scheduled passenger service to Kodiak, Alaska, is subsidized by the United States Department of Transportation via the Essential Air Service program.
• The furthest airport from West Point Village Seaplane Base (KWP) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,793 miles (17,369 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• The closest airport to West Point Village Seaplane Base (KWP) is San Juan (Uganik) Seaplane Base (UGI), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) ESE of KWP.