Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Maracaibo, Venezuela:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and La Chinita International Airport (MAR), Maracaibo, Venezuela would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,544 miles (or 5,703 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 La Chinita International 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 La Chinita International 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):

• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• 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.
• The EPA currently has this base listed on their database due to the bulk wastes such as solvents, oils, fuels, and sludges which were disposed in pits at landfills around the base until 1977.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.

Facts about La Chinita International Airport (MAR):

• The closest airport to La Chinita International Airport (MAR) is Oro Negro Airport (CBS), which is located 32 miles (51 kilometers) ESE of MAR.
• La Chinita International Airport (MAR) has 2 runways.
• Because of La Chinita International Airport's relatively low elevation of 235 feet, planes can take off or land at La Chinita International 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.
• In addition to being known as "La Chinita International Airport", another name for MAR is "Aeropuerto Internacional La Chinita".
• The furthest airport from La Chinita International Airport (MAR) is Christmas Island Airport (XCH), which is nearly antipodal to La Chinita International Airport (meaning La Chinita International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Christmas Island Airport), and is located 12,261 miles (19,732 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Australia.