Nonstop flight route between North Whale Pass, Alaska, United States and Sumter, South Carolina, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between North Whale Seaplane Base (WWP), North Whale Pass, Alaska, United States and Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,894 miles (or 4,658 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 North Whale Seaplane Base and Shaw Air Force 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 North Whale Seaplane Base and Shaw Air Force 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 North Whale Seaplane Base (WWP):

• North Whale Seaplane Base (WWP) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to North Whale Seaplane Base (WWP) is Coffman Cove Seaplane Base (KCC), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) ESE of WWP.
• Because of North Whale Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at North Whale 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.
• In addition to being known as "North Whale Seaplane Base", another name for WWP is "96Z".
• The furthest airport from North Whale Seaplane Base (WWP) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 10,610 miles (17,076 kilometers) away in Port Alfred, South Africa.

Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):

• By 1980, the advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary.
• 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.
• Shaw AFB is home base of the USAF 20th Fighter Wing, which flies F-16CJ Fighting Falcons.
• On 23 September 1949 the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was transferred to the 20th from the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Langley AFB Virginia.
• For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp.
• It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is one of only two air bases in CONUS with an active railroad line.
• The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.