Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Labuan Bajo, Flores Island, Indonesia:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Komodo Airport (LBJ), Labuan Bajo, Flores Island, Indonesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,187 miles (or 13,176 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 Komodo 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 Komodo 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):

• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• 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.
• The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• 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.

Facts about Komodo Airport (LBJ):

• The furthest airport from Komodo Airport (LBJ) is El Dorado Airport (EOR), which is nearly antipodal to Komodo Airport (meaning Komodo Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from El Dorado Airport), and is located 12,277 miles (19,758 kilometers) away in El Dorado, Venezuela.
• Runway being extended to 2150 meters by Sep 2013 to accommodate 737's.
• Because of Komodo Airport's relatively low elevation of 67 feet, planes can take off or land at Komodo 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 Komodo Airport (LBJ) is Bajawa Soa Airport (BJW), which is located 82 miles (131 kilometers) E of LBJ.
• In addition to being known as "Komodo Airport", other names for LBJ include "Bandar Udara Komodo" and "Mutiara II Airport".
• Komodo Airport (LBJ) currently has only 1 runway.
• On September 14, 2011 an Aviastar aircraft hit a group of cows upon landing at Komodo Airport, slightly damaging its forward part, although the airport officers had driven the cows away using motorcycles, before the aircraft landed.