Nonstop flight route between Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia and Merced, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(29°27'24"S by 147°59'6"E)
Arrival Airport:
(37°17'4"N by 120°30'50"W)
Distance from LHG to MCE:
7,491.38 miles (12,056.18 km)
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- About this route
- LHG Airport Information
- MCE Airport Information
- Facts about LHG
- Facts about MCE
- Map of Nearest Airports to LHG
- List of Nearest Airports to LHG
- Map of Furthest Airports from LHG
- List of Furthest Airports from LHG
- Map of Nearest Airports to MCE
- List of Nearest Airports to MCE
- Map of Furthest Airports from MCE
- List of Furthest Airports from MCE
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG), Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia and Merced Regional Airport (MCE), Merced, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,491 miles (or 12,056 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 Lightning Ridge Airport and Merced Regional 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 Lightning Ridge Airport and Merced Regional Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | LHG / YLRD |
| Airport Name: | Lightning Ridge Airport |
| Location: | Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°27'24"S by 147°59'6"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Walgett Shire Council |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 540 feet (165 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LHG |
| More Information: | LHG Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MCE / KMCE |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Merced, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°17'4"N by 120°30'50"W |
| Area Served: | Merced, California |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Merced |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 155 feet (47 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MCE |
| More Information: | MCE Maps & Info |
Facts about Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG):
- The furthest airport from Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG) is Santa Maria Airport (SMA), which is located 11,784 miles (18,965 kilometers) away in Santa Maria, Portugal.
- The closest airport to Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG) is Collarenebri Airport (CRB), which is located 36 miles (58 kilometers) E of LHG.
- Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG) has 2 runways.
- Because of Lightning Ridge Airport's relatively low elevation of 540 feet, planes can take off or land at Lightning Ridge 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 Merced Regional Airport (MCE):
- In 1943 New Merced Municipal Airport was leased to the U.S.
- The Department of Transportation reselected Great Lakes Airlines to provide Essential Air Service at Merced Regional Airport for the two-year period from October 1, 2012, through September 30, 2014.
- Merced Regional Airport (MCE) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Merced Regional Airport (MCE) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,314 miles (18,209 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- In 1946 United Airlines built offices and a terminal building and began one Douglas DC-3 flight each way a day.
- The airport was formerly served by Air Pacific, American Eagle, Golden Gate Airlines, United Airlines, United Express and US Airways Express.
- In addition to being known as "Merced Regional Airport", another name for MCE is "MacReady Field".
- The closest airport to Merced Regional Airport (MCE) is Castle Airport (MER), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) NNW of MCE.
- Because of Merced Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 155 feet, planes can take off or land at Merced Regional 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.
- On March 6, 2009 the city council voted to change the name from Merced Municipal Airport to Merced Regional Airport.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 36.16 miles (58.20 km) E | Collarenebri Airport (CRB) | Collarenebri, New South Wales, Australia |     |
| 2 | 61.38 miles (98.79 km) NNE | Dirranbandi Airport (DRN) | Dirranbandi, Queensland, Australia | |
| 3 | 78.67 miles (126.61 km) WSW | Brewarrina Airport (BWQ) | Brewarrina, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 4 | 108.02 miles (173.84 km) SSE | Coonamble Airport (CNB) | Coonamble, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 5 | 111.90 miles (180.08 km) E | Moree Airport (MRZ) | Moree, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 128.42 miles (206.68 km) WSW | Bourke Airport (BRK) | Bourke, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 7 | 150.48 miles (242.17 km) SSE | Coonabarabran Airport (COJ) | Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 155.22 miles (249.81 km) ENE | Goondiwindi Airport (GOO) | Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia | |
| 9 | 170.59 miles (274.54 km) SE | Gunnedah Airport (GUH) | Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 10 | 173.79 miles (279.68 km) NW | Cunnamulla Airport (CMA) | Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia | |
| 11 | 186.96 miles (300.89 km) SSE | Coolah Airport (CLH) | Coolah, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 12 | 191.98 miles (308.96 km) E | Inverell Airport (IVR) | Inverell, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 13 | 193.88 miles (312.02 km) S | Dubbo City Regional Airport (DBO) | Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 14 | 194.18 miles (312.51 km) SW | Cobar Airport (CAZ) | Cobar, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 15 | 204.58 miles (329.23 km) SE | Tamworth Airport (TMW) | Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,784.34 miles (18,965.01 km) NW | Santa Maria Airport (SMA) | Santa Maria, Portugal | |
| 2 | 11,782.83 miles (18,962.58 km) NNW | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 11,775.88 miles (18,951.39 km) NNW | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 4 | 11,759.08 miles (18,924.36 km) NNW | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | |
| 5 | 11,743.95 miles (18,900.01 km) N | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 11,735.17 miles (18,885.88 km) NNW | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 11,733.41 miles (18,883.05 km) NNW | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 11,729.22 miles (18,876.30 km) N | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 9 | 11,574.07 miles (18,626.62 km) W | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 10 | 11,535.41 miles (18,564.40 km) W | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 11 | 11,508.71 miles (18,521.43 km) WNW | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 12 | 11,496.98 miles (18,502.56 km) W | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 13 | 11,487.71 miles (18,487.62 km) W | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 14 | 11,483.59 miles (18,481.01 km) NNW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 15 | 11,479.56 miles (18,474.52 km) WNW | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.26 miles (11.68 km) NNW | Castle Airport (MER) | Atwater, California, United States | |
| 2 | 24.85 miles (40.00 km) SW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 3 | 30.12 miles (48.48 km) SE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 4 | 33.75 miles (54.32 km) NW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States | |
| 5 | 33.80 miles (54.40 km) WNW | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 6 | 51.82 miles (83.39 km) N | Columbia Airport (COA) | Columbia, California, United States | |
| 7 | 54.05 miles (86.99 km) SE | Fresno Chandler Executive AirportChandler Municipal Airport (Old) (FCH) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 8 | 56.17 miles (90.40 km) SE | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 9 | 56.32 miles (90.64 km) WSW | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 10 | 57.85 miles (93.10 km) NW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 11 | 71.84 miles (115.61 km) W | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 12 | 72.73 miles (117.05 km) SSE | Naval Air Station Lemoore (NLC) | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| 13 | 74.05 miles (119.17 km) SW | Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Army Air Base (SNS) | Salinas, California, United States | |
| 14 | 74.32 miles (119.60 km) WSW | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 15 | 76.99 miles (123.90 km) WNW | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,314.37 miles (18,208.66 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,307.39 miles (18,197.43 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,279.28 miles (18,152.20 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,267.22 miles (18,132.79 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,207.12 miles (18,036.06 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,203.48 miles (18,030.21 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,141.12 miles (17,929.85 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,115.41 miles (17,888.48 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,013.77 miles (17,724.89 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,010.70 miles (17,719.97 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,995.65 miles (17,695.73 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,977.40 miles (17,666.37 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,967.52 miles (17,650.47 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,948.55 miles (17,619.94 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,923.94 miles (17,580.34 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |