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

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States and Naukati Bay Seaplane Base (WNC), Tuxekan Island, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,896 miles (or 4,660 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 Naukati Bay 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 Naukati Bay 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):

• 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.
• On 1 April 1945 jurisdiction of Shaw Field was transferred to First Air Force.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 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 432nd's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW.

Facts about Naukati Bay Seaplane Base (WNC):

• Naukati Bay Seaplane Base (WNC) has 2 runways.
• The closest airport to Naukati Bay Seaplane Base (WNC) is Tokeen Seaplane Base (TKI), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) NNW of WNC.
• In addition to being known as "Naukati Bay Seaplane Base", other names for WNC include "(Nichin Cove Seaplane Base)" and "AK62".
• The furthest airport from Naukati Bay Seaplane Base (WNC) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 10,627 miles (17,103 kilometers) away in Port Alfred, South Africa.
• Because of Naukati Bay Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Naukati Bay 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.