Nonstop flight route between Incheon (near Seoul), South Korea and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Incheon International Airport (ICN), Incheon (near Seoul), South Korea and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,731 miles (or 9,222 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 Incheon International Airport 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 Incheon International Airport 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 Incheon International Airport (ICN):

• The furthest airport from Incheon International Airport (ICN) is Villa Gesell Airport (VLG), which is nearly antipodal to Incheon International Airport (meaning Incheon International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Villa Gesell Airport), and is located 12,246 miles (19,707 kilometers) away in Villa Gesell, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• Incheon International Airport handled 41,482,828 passengers last year.
• Because of Incheon International Airport's relatively low elevation of 23 feet, planes can take off or land at Incheon 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.
• The closest airport to Incheon International Airport (ICN) is Gimpo International Airport (GMP), which is located 20 miles (33 kilometers) ENE of ICN.
• Initially, there were numerous problems, mostly involving baggage handling, which required the system to be operated semi-automatically.
• Incheon International Airport (ICN) has 3 runways.
• Incheon International Airport is located west of Incheon's city center, on an artificially created piece of land between Yeongjong and Yongyu islands.
• Phase 2 construction began in 2002, and was originally expected to be completed in December 2008.
• In addition to being known as "Incheon International Airport", other names for ICN include "인천국제공항 仁川國際空港" and "Incheon Gukje Gonghang Inch'ŏn Kukche Konghang".

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.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.