Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Astana, Kazakhstan:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Astana International Airport (TSE), Astana, Kazakhstan would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,321 miles (or 10,173 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 Astana International 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 Astana International 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):

• Jurisdiction of Shaw was again transferred to Tactical Air Command on 23 March 1946.
• 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.
• 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.
• By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.
• 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 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.
• On 23 September 1949 the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was transferred to the 20th from the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Langley AFB Virginia.
• 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.
• For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp.

Facts about Astana International Airport (TSE):

• Astana International Airport (TSE) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Astana International Airport (TSE) is Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (PNT), which is located 10,898 miles (17,539 kilometers) away in Puerto Natales, Chile.
• The closest airport to Astana International Airport (TSE) is Sary-Arka Airport (KGF), which is located 124 miles (200 kilometers) SE of TSE.
• There are one terminal which divided into two sectors - A and B.
• Astana International Airport handled 2,303,143 passengers last year.
• In addition to being known as "Astana International Airport", other names for TSE include "Халықаралық Астана Әуежайы" and "Международный аэропорт Астана".
• Currently Astana Airport accepts all types of aircraft without limitation of take-off weight.