Nonstop flight route between Sheung Wan, China and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Shun Tak Heliport (HHP), Sheung Wan, China and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,993 miles (or 11,254 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 Shun Tak Heliport and Castle 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 Shun Tak Heliport and Castle 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 Shun Tak Heliport (HHP):

• On 29 November 2013, a TurboJET double decker ferry with 105 passengers crashed with an unknown object.
• The Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal is a ferry terminal and heliport, centrally located in Hong Kong.
• The furthest airport from Shun Tak Heliport (HHP) is Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza International Airport (TJA), which is nearly antipodal to Shun Tak Heliport (meaning Shun Tak Heliport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza International Airport), and is located 12,348 miles (19,871 kilometers) away in Tarija, Bolivia.
• The terminal utilises two island piers, each with several ferry docks, linked by enclosed pedestrian bridges to the ticketing and departure/arrival hall facilities in the lower levels of the Shun Tak Centre on the shore.
• The closest airport to Shun Tak Heliport (HHP) is Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), which is located only 15 miles (25 kilometers) W of HHP.
• The original heliport at the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal was built in 1990, and provided a single helipad situated over the western end of the inner pier.
• Because of Shun Tak Heliport's relatively low elevation of 107 feet, planes can take off or land at Shun Tak Heliport 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.
• Apart from ferry and helicopter, the ferry terminal is a public transport hub to various parts of Hong Kong.

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.
• 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• 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.