Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Luoyang, Henan, China:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Luoyang Beijiao Airport (LYA), Luoyang, Henan, China would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,617 miles (or 12,258 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 Luoyang Beijiao 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 Luoyang Beijiao 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):

• Shaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately 8.4 miles west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• On 1 April 1945 jurisdiction of Shaw Field was transferred to First Air Force.

Facts about Luoyang Beijiao Airport (LYA):

• Luoyang Beijiao Airport (LYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Luoyang Beijiao Airport (LYA) is Yuncheng Guangong Airport (YCU), which is located 81 miles (130 kilometers) WNW of LYA.
• Because of Luoyang Beijiao Airport's relatively low elevation of 840 feet, planes can take off or land at Luoyang Beijiao 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.
• In addition to being known as "Luoyang Beijiao Airport", other names for LYA include "洛阳北郊机场" and "Luòyáng Běijiāo Jīchǎng".
• The furthest airport from Luoyang Beijiao Airport (LYA) is San Rafael Airport (AFA), which is nearly antipodal to Luoyang Beijiao Airport (meaning Luoyang Beijiao Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from San Rafael Airport), and is located 12,391 miles (19,941 kilometers) away in San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina.