Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Angers, France:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Angers – Loire Airport (ANE), Angers, France would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,511 miles (or 8,868 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 Castle Airport and Angers – Loire 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 Castle Airport and Angers – Loire 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 Castle Airport (MER):

• In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Castle Airport's relatively low elevation of 191 feet, planes can take off or land at Castle 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
• The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
• It was estimated that the cost to relocate the 129 RQW to Castle, to include associated military construction costs, could be recouped in seven years.

Facts about Angers – Loire Airport (ANE):

• The closest airport to Angers – Loire Airport (ANE) is Cholet Le Pontreau Airport (CET), which is located 42 miles (68 kilometers) SW of ANE.
• The furthest airport from Angers – Loire Airport (ANE) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Angers – Loire Airport (meaning Angers – Loire Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,118 miles (19,502 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• In addition to being known as "Angers – Loire Airport", another name for ANE is "Aéroport de Angers – Loire".
• Angers – Loire Airport (ANE) has 3 runways.
• Because of Angers – Loire Airport's relatively low elevation of 194 feet, planes can take off or land at Angers – Loire 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.