Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Petersburg, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport (PSG), Petersburg, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,896 miles (or 4,660 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 Petersburg James A. Johnson 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 Petersburg James A. Johnson 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 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.
• After the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate military branch in September 1947, Shaw Army Airfield was renamed Shaw Air Force Base, on 13 January 1948 and the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated on 15 August 1947 with the implementation of the Hobson Plan.
• 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 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 October 1942, the flight training was changed to Advanced flying training and AT-6 Texan single-engine and Beech AT-10 twin-engine trainers were used.
• 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 66th TRW was formed at Shaw from the RB-26 assets of the 18th TRS and RF-80s transferred from South Korea.
• The 363d TFW received its first F-16 on 26 March 1982.

Facts about Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport (PSG):

• Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport (PSG) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport (PSG) is Wrangell Airport (WRG), which is located 31 miles (50 kilometers) SE of PSG.
• As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 19,901 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 17,988 enplanements in 2009, and 18,468 in 2010.
• The furthest airport from Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport (PSG) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 10,570 miles (17,010 kilometers) away in Port Alfred, South Africa.
• Because of Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport's relatively low elevation of 113 feet, planes can take off or land at Petersburg James A. Johnson 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.