Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Marrakech, Morocco:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), Marrakech, Morocco would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,118 miles (or 6,627 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 Marrakesh Menara 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 Marrakesh Menara 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 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.
• 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.
• Following Desert Storm, the 19th and 33d Tactical Fighter Squadrons deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, a coalition effort to enforce the Iraqi "No Fly Zone" south of the 32nd parallel north.
• 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.
• The 20th Fighter Group was first equipped with North American P-51D, then exchanged its P-51's in February 1948 for F-84B Thunderjets, the first TAC group to receive operational F-84s.
• Flying activities at the field began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants.
• Shaw Air Force Base is named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lieutenant Ervin David Shaw.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of 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.

Facts about Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK):

• In addition to being known as "Marrakesh Menara Airport", other names for RAK include "Aéroport Marrakech Ménara" and "مطار مراكش المنارة".
• Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) currently has only 1 runway.
• Currently Menara Airport has formally two passenger terminals, but these are more or less combined to form one large terminal.
• The paved runway is laid out in the direction 10/28 is 3,100 by 45 metres.
• Menara is one of the six airports in Morocco where ONDA offers its special VIP service Salon Convives de Marque.
• The closest airport to Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) is Ouarzazate Airport (OZZ), which is located 81 miles (130 kilometers) SE of RAK.
• The furthest airport from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) is Kaitaia Airport (KAT), which is nearly antipodal to Marrakesh Menara Airport (meaning Marrakesh Menara Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Kaitaia Airport), and is located 12,186 miles (19,611 kilometers) away in Kaitaia, New Zealand.
• Marrakesh Menara Airport handled 3,373,475 passengers last year.
• Aircraft parking space of 125,000 square metres supports up to fourteen Boeing 737s and four Boeing 747s.