Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Lusambo, Democratic Republic of the Congo:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Lusambo Airport (LBO), Lusambo, Democratic Republic of the Congo would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,203 miles (or 11,592 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 Lusambo 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 Lusambo 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 squadrons flew the P-61 Black Widow in Europe with Ninth Air Force during World War II, and were reassigned back to the United States after the end of hostilities.
• The 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.
• 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.
• 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.
• On 1 April 1945 jurisdiction of Shaw Field was transferred to First Air Force.
• By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.

Facts about Lusambo Airport (LBO):

• The furthest airport from Lusambo Airport (LBO) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is nearly antipodal to Lusambo Airport (meaning Lusambo Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cassidy International Airport), and is located 12,225 miles (19,674 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.
• The closest airport to Lusambo Airport (LBO) is Mbuji Mayi Airport (MJM), which is located 81 miles (131 kilometers) S of LBO.