Nonstop flight route between Shemya, Alaska, United States and Reno, Nevada, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States and Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,175 miles (or 5,109 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 Eareckson Air Station and Reno–Tahoe 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 Eareckson Air Station and Reno–Tahoe 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 Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• Because of Eareckson Air Station's relatively low elevation of 97 feet, planes can take off or land at Eareckson Air Station 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 mission of Eleventh Air Force was to take advantage of the new airfields on Shemya and Attu, and carry out offensive operations against the enemy forces in the Kuriles.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The limited resources assigned to the Eleventh Air Force meant only a limited number of missions could be carried out over the Kuriles.
• The 404th Bombardment Squadron flew B-24 Liberator heavy bombers along with one Beechcraft AT-7, which was used for navigator training.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• By the end of 1944, several hundred American airmen had been interned by the Russians after their crippled aircraft landed on Petropavlovsk on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
• In 1958, the Air Force resumed operations on Shemya in support of various Air Force and Army strategic intelligence collection activities.
• It also became a Strategic Air Command refueling site for B-52 Stratofortress bombers and KC-135 tankers as part of Operation Chrome Dome.
• The closest airport to Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Casco Cove Coast Guard Station (ATU), which is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) WNW of SYA.
• The furthest airport from Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,668 miles (17,168 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
• On 10 July 1943, eight B-25 Mitchells from the 77th Bombardment Squadron left Adak AAF and refueled at Alexai Point AAF on Attu.
• A second attack by B-24 Liberators was launched from Alexai Point and Shemya on 18 July.

Facts about Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO):

• Reno–Tahoe International Airport is a public and military use airport located three nautical miles southeast of downtown Reno, in Washoe County, Nevada.
• The bus stops at Terminal Way & Villanova Street, which is a short walk from the north baggage claim via the marked pedestrian walkway.
• Because of Reno–Tahoe International Airport's high elevation of 4,415 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at RNO. Combined with a high temperature, this could make RNO a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO) has 3 runways.
• The furthest airport from Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,175 miles (17,984 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• The closest airport to Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is Carson Airport (CSN), which is located 21 miles (34 kilometers) S of RNO.
• The first terminal building was completed in time for the 1960 Winter Olympics held in Squaw Valley, California in 1960.
• The airport is also host to Reno Air National Guard Base, an approximately 60-acre complex which was established on the west side of the airport in 1954 when Air National Guard units relocated from the former Stead AFB in Reno.
• Reno–Tahoe International Airport handled 3,431,986 passengers last year.