Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Valencia Airport (VLC), Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,297 miles (or 6,915 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 Valencia 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 Valencia 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 March 23, 1953, the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was activated at Shaw.
• 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.
• Jurisdiction of Shaw was again transferred to Tactical Air Command on 23 March 1946.
• 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.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• Flying activities at the field began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants.
• 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 Valencia Airport (VLC):

• A new regional terminal, expanded car parking facilities and apron area have been recently constructed in time for the 2007 America's Cup.
• Valencia Airport (VLC) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Valencia Airport (VLC) is Gisborne Airport (GIS), which is nearly antipodal to Valencia Airport (meaning Valencia Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Gisborne Airport), and is located 12,336 miles (19,853 kilometers) away in Gisborne, New Zealand.
• The closest airport to Valencia Airport (VLC) is Castellón Airport (CDT), which is located 44 miles (71 kilometers) NE of VLC.
• Because of Valencia Airport's relatively low elevation of 240 feet, planes can take off or land at Valencia 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.