Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia:
Departure Airport:
(33°58'23"N by 80°28'22"W)
Arrival Airport:
(18°17'44"S by 137°1'0"W)
Distance from SSC to PUK:
5,182.66 miles (8,340.66 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SSC Airport Information
- PUK Airport Information
- Facts about SSC
- Facts about PUK
- Map of Nearest Airports to SSC
- List of Nearest Airports to SSC
- Map of Furthest Airports from SSC
- List of Furthest Airports from SSC
- Map of Nearest Airports to PUK
- List of Nearest Airports to PUK
- Map of Furthest Airports from PUK
- List of Furthest Airports from PUK
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Pukarua Airport (PUK), Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,183 miles (or 8,341 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 Pukarua 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 Pukarua Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SSC / KSSC |
| Airport Name: | Shaw Air Force Base |
| Location: | Sumter, South Carolina, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°58'23"N by 80°28'22"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from SSC |
| More Information: | SSC Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PUK / NTGQ |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°17'44"S by 137°1'0"W |
| Area Served: | Pukarua |
| Operator/Owner: | DSEAC Polynésie Française |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PUK |
| More Information: | PUK Maps & Info |
Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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 closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
- Shaw Field was activated on 30 August 1941 and placed under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Corps Southeast Air Corps Training Center.
- The 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.
Facts about Pukarua Airport (PUK):
- The closest airport to Pukarua Airport (PUK) is Nukutavake Airport (NUK), which is located 134 miles (215 kilometers) WSW of PUK.
- The furthest airport from Pukarua Airport (PUK) is Abha Regional Airport (AHB), which is nearly antipodal to Pukarua Airport (meaning Pukarua Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Abha Regional Airport), and is located 12,415 miles (19,980 kilometers) away in Abha / Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia.
- In addition to being known as "Pukarua Airport", another name for PUK is "Aérodrome de Pukarua".
- Pukarua Airport (PUK) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 6.56 miles (10.56 km) ENE | Sumter Airport (SUM) | Sumter, South Carolina, United States |     |
| 2 | 19.16 miles (30.84 km) W | McEntire Joint National Guard Base Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield CongareeCongaree Army Airfield (MMT) | Eastover, South Carolina, United States | |
| 3 | 22.10 miles (35.56 km) NNW | Woodward Field (CDN) | Camden, South Carolina, United States | |
| 4 | 29.94 miles (48.18 km) W | Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport (CUB) | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | |
| 5 | 35.93 miles (57.83 km) NE | Hartsville Regional Airport (HVS) | Hartsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 6 | 37.14 miles (59.76 km) W | Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) | West Columbia (near Columbia), South Carolina, United States | |
| 7 | 42.02 miles (67.62 km) SSW | Orangeburg Municipal Airport (OGB) | Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States | |
| 8 | 45.30 miles (72.90 km) ENE | Florence Regional Airport (FLO) | Florence, South Carolina, United States | |
| 9 | 58.98 miles (94.91 km) NNE | Cheraw Municipal Airport (HCW) | Cheraw, South Carolina, United States | |
| 10 | 61.52 miles (99.00 km) NE | Marlboro County Jetport (BTN) | Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 11 | 65.25 miles (105.02 km) ESE | Robert F. Swinnie Airport (ADR) | Andrews, South Carolina, United States | |
| 12 | 71.15 miles (114.51 km) ENE | Dillon County Airport (DLL) | Dillon, South Carolina, United States | |
| 13 | 72.21 miles (116.21 km) SW | Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL) | Barnwell, South Carolina, United States | |
| 14 | 73.09 miles (117.63 km) WSW | Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK) | Aiken, South Carolina, United States | |
| 15 | 73.32 miles (118.00 km) S | Lowcountry Regional Airport (RBW) | Walterboro, South Carolina, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,545.12 miles (18,580.03 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,526.46 miles (18,549.99 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,508.26 miles (18,520.70 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,499.92 miles (18,507.29 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,494.70 miles (18,498.88 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,487.36 miles (18,487.07 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,481.75 miles (18,478.04 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,474.49 miles (18,466.35 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,473.86 miles (18,465.34 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,462.29 miles (18,446.72 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,428.78 miles (18,392.80 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,419.93 miles (18,378.55 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,412.96 miles (18,367.34 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,397.61 miles (18,342.63 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,394.58 miles (18,337.76 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 133.61 miles (215.02 km) WSW | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 198.53 miles (319.51 km) SSW | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 258.35 miles (415.77 km) W | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 307.56 miles (494.97 km) WNW | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 358.40 miles (576.79 km) SSE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 392.46 miles (631.59 km) WNW | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 453.12 miles (729.22 km) WNW | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 562.56 miles (905.35 km) W | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 590.91 miles (950.97 km) WNW | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 604.13 miles (972.24 km) NNW | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 648.86 miles (1,044.24 km) WNW | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 656.57 miles (1,056.64 km) WNW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 668.13 miles (1,075.25 km) WNW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 669.18 miles (1,076.93 km) WNW | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 809.51 miles (1,302.77 km) WNW | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,415.05 miles (19,980.03 km) E | Abha Regional Airport (AHB) | Abha / Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia | |
| 2 | 12,331.23 miles (19,845.14 km) WNW | Najran Domestic Airport (EAM) | Najran (Nejran), Saudi Arabia | |
| 3 | 12,317.76 miles (19,823.46 km) NNE | Bisha Domestic Airport (BHH) | Bisha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 4 | 12,272.96 miles (19,751.37 km) NNE | Al-Baha Domestic Airport (ABT) | Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 5 | 12,225.55 miles (19,675.07 km) NNW | El Rahaba Airport (Sana'a International) (SAH) | Sana'a, Yemen | |
| 6 | 12,192.03 miles (19,621.12 km) N | Hodeida International Airport (HOD) | Al Hudaydah (Hodeida), Yemen | |
| 7 | 12,165.38 miles (19,578.23 km) NE | Ta'if Regional Airport (TIF) | Ta'if, Saudi Arabia | |
| 8 | 12,137.43 miles (19,533.25 km) NE | Massawa International Airport (MSW) | Massawa, Eritrea | |
| 9 | 12,133.84 miles (19,527.47 km) NW | Beihan Airport (BHN) | Beihan, Yemen | |
| 10 | 12,109.18 miles (19,487.78 km) NNW | Ta'izz International Airport (TAI) | Ta'izz, Yemen | |
| 11 | 12,096.78 miles (19,467.84 km) NE | Asmara International Airport (ASM) | Asmara, Eritrea | |
| 12 | 12,095.67 miles (19,466.05 km) NE | King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 13 | 12,075.16 miles (19,433.04 km) N | Assab International Airport (ASA) | Assab, Eritrea | |
| 14 | 12,073.79 miles (19,430.84 km) NW | Ataq Airport (AXK) | Ataq, Yemen | |
| 15 | 12,052.81 miles (19,397.07 km) ENE | Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU) | Port Sudan, Sudan | |