Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Masai Mara, Kenya:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Mara Serena Airport (MRE), Masai Mara, Kenya would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,720 miles (or 12,425 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 Mara Serena 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 Mara Serena 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 closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• Jurisdiction of Shaw was again transferred to Tactical Air Command on 23 March 1946.
• Shaw AFB is home base of the USAF 20th Fighter Wing, which flies F-16CJ Fighting Falcons.
• By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.
• On 1 April 1951, the 363d TRW was transferred to Shaw from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia The 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing would remain at Shaw, under various designations, for the next 43 years.
• 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 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.
• Flying activities at the field began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants.
• 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.
• 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.
• The 20th FG was reassigned to Langley AFB, Virginia on 1 December 1951 in preparation for a permanent overseas deployment to RAF Wethersfield, England to support NATO.

Facts about Mara Serena Airport (MRE):

• The closest airport to Mara Serena Airport (MRE) is Kericho Airport (KEY), which is located 72 miles (116 kilometers) NNE of MRE.
• Mara Serena Airport (MRE) currently has only 1 runway.
• Mara Serena Airport is a small civilian airport, serving Masai Mara and the neighboring communities.
• The furthest airport from Mara Serena Airport (MRE) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is located 11,582 miles (18,640 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.
• Because of Mara Serena Airport's high elevation of 5,600 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MRE. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MRE a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• In addition to being known as "Mara Serena Airport", another name for MRE is "n/a".