Nonstop flight route between Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Hyder, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Hyder Seaplane Base (WHD), Hyder, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,773 miles (or 4,463 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 Hyder Seaplane Base, 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 Hyder Seaplane Base. 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):

• For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp.
• In October 1942, the flight training was changed to Advanced flying training and AT-6 Texan single-engine and Beech AT-10 twin-engine trainers were used.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 Air Force Base is named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lieutenant Ervin David Shaw.
• 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.
• On 9 August 1990, the 17th and 33d TFS of 363d TFW became the first F-16 squadrons to deploy to the United Arab Emirates in Operation Desert Shield.

Facts about Hyder Seaplane Base (WHD):

• There are two floats for seaplanes, one along the shoreline and another within a protected cove with a concrete launch ramp.
• The closest airport to Hyder Seaplane Base (WHD) is Stewart Aerodrome (ZST), which is located only 2 miles (4 kilometers) NNE of WHD.
• Because of Hyder Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Hyder Seaplane Base 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 Hyder Seaplane Base (WHD) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 10,540 miles (16,962 kilometers) away in Port Alfred, South Africa.
• Hyder Seaplane Base (WHD) currently has only 1 runway.
• Hyder Seaplane Base is a state owned, public use seaplane base located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Hyder, a community in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area of the U.S.
• In addition to being known as "Hyder Seaplane Base", another name for WHD is "4Z7".