Nonstop flight route between Walvis Bay, Namibia and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Walvis Bay Airport (WVB), Walvis Bay, Namibia and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,115 miles (or 16,279 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 Walvis Bay Airport and Eareckson Air Station, 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 Walvis Bay Airport and Eareckson Air Station. 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 Walvis Bay Airport (WVB):

• The furthest airport from Walvis Bay Airport (WVB) is PMRF Barking Sands (BKH), which is nearly antipodal to Walvis Bay Airport (meaning Walvis Bay Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from PMRF Barking Sands), and is located 12,075 miles (19,433 kilometers) away in Kekaha, Hawaii, United States.
• The closest airport to Walvis Bay Airport (WVB) is Arandis Airport (ADI), which is located 42 miles (67 kilometers) NNE of WVB.
• Walvis Bay Airport (WVB) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Walvis Bay Airport's relatively low elevation of 299 feet, planes can take off or land at Walvis Bay 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.

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• 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.
• 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.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The Korean War brought extensive use by the Military Air Transport Service for the logistical support of Korea and Japan.
• 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.
• The news of the surrender of the Japanese was met with enthusiasm, the biggest topic was "When do we go home?".
• It also became a Strategic Air Command refueling site for B-52 Stratofortress bombers and KC-135 tankers as part of Operation Chrome Dome.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• On 10 July 1943, eight B-25 Mitchells from the 77th Bombardment Squadron left Adak AAF and refueled at Alexai Point AAF on Attu.
• The spring of 1944 brought improving weather and the B-24s and PV-1s to fly more missions over the Kuriles.
• With the successful completion of the Aleutian Campaign in August 1943, Eleventh Air Force came within striking distance of the Japanese Kurile Islands, the northernmost being 750 miles to the south-southwest of Shemya.