Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,188 miles (or 13,177 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 Lal Bahadur Shastri 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 Lal Bahadur Shastri 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):

• 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 closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
• As a result of the August 1992 destruction of Homestead AFB Florida by Hurricane Andrew in September 1992, the 31st Fighter Wing's 309th Fighter Squadron was initially evacuated to Shaw AFB prior to the hurricane making landfall.
• 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.
• On March 23, 1953, the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was activated at Shaw.
• 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 Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS):

• Because of Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport's relatively low elevation of 266 feet, planes can take off or land at Lal Bahadur Shastri 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.
• The furthest airport from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS) is Mataveri International Airport (IPC), which is located 11,667 miles (18,777 kilometers) away in Easter Island, Chile.
• Jet airways at Varanasi Airport
• Varanasi departure terminal
• The closest airport to Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS) is Allahabad Airport (IXD), which is located 70 miles (113 kilometers) W of VNS.
• Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS) currently has only 1 runway.
• The airport was granted international status by the Union Cabinet on 4 October 2012.