Nonstop flight route between Shemya, Alaska, United States and Vacaville, California, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from SYA to VCB:
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- About this route
- SYA Airport Information
- VCB Airport Information
- Facts about SYA
- Facts about VCB
- Map of Nearest Airports to SYA
- List of Nearest Airports to SYA
- Map of Furthest Airports from SYA
- List of Furthest Airports from SYA
- Map of Nearest Airports to VCB
- List of Nearest Airports to VCB
- Map of Furthest Airports from VCB
- List of Furthest Airports from VCB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States and Nut Tree Airport (VCB), Vacaville, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,134 miles (or 5,043 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 Nut Tree 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 Nut Tree Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | SYA / PASY |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Shemya, Alaska, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 52°42'43"N by 174°6'48"E |
Operator/Owner: | U.S. Air Force |
Airport Type: | Military |
Elevation: | 97 feet (30 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from SYA |
More Information: | SYA Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | VCB / KVCB |
Airport Name: | Nut Tree Airport |
Location: | Vacaville, California, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 38°22'40"N by 121°57'42"W |
Area Served: | Vacaville, California |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 117 feet (36 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from VCB |
More Information: | VCB Maps & Info |
Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):
- The limited resources assigned to the Eleventh Air Force meant only a limited number of missions could be carried out over the Kuriles.
- 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.
- It also became a Strategic Air Command refueling site for B-52 Stratofortress bombers and KC-135 tankers as part of Operation Chrome Dome.
- Shemya also continued to support the Great Circle Route for MATS and later Military Airlift Command transports between Japan and Elmendorf AFB.
- In August, after the Soviet Union declared war against the Japanese Empire, B-24s were dispatched on reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering missions to observe the Russian activity in the Kuriles.
- The 404th Bombardment Squadron flew B-24 Liberator heavy bombers along with one Beechcraft AT-7, which was used for navigator training.
- 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.
- 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.
- In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and " ".
- Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
Facts about Nut Tree Airport (VCB):
- The closest airport to Nut Tree Airport (VCB) is Travis Air Force Base Fairfield-Suisun Army Airfield (SUU), which is located only 8 miles (13 kilometers) SSE of VCB.
- Nut Tree Airport (VCB) currently has only 1 runway.
- The airport is near the junction of Interstates 80 and 505.
- Because of Nut Tree Airport's relatively low elevation of 117 feet, planes can take off or land at Nut Tree 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 Nut Tree Airport (VCB) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,310 miles (18,202 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.