Nonstop flight route between Merced, California, United States and Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°17'4"N by 120°30'50"W)
Arrival Airport:
(28°34'47"S by 29°45'11"E)
Distance from MCE to LAY:
10,619.74 miles (17,090.78 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MCE Airport Information
- LAY Airport Information
- Facts about MCE
- Facts about LAY
- Map of Nearest Airports to MCE
- List of Nearest Airports to MCE
- Map of Furthest Airports from MCE
- List of Furthest Airports from MCE
- Map of Nearest Airports to LAY
- List of Nearest Airports to LAY
- Map of Furthest Airports from LAY
- List of Furthest Airports from LAY
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Merced Regional Airport (MCE), Merced, California, United States and Ladysmith Airport (LAY), Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,620 miles (or 17,091 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 Merced Regional Airport and Ladysmith 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 Merced Regional Airport and Ladysmith Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure 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 |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | LAY / FALY |
| Airport Name: | Ladysmith Airport |
| Location: | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°34'47"S by 29°45'11"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Municipal |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 3548 feet (1,081 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LAY |
| More Information: | LAY Maps & Info |
Facts about Merced Regional Airport (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 May 15, 2011 Great Lakes Airlines commenced daily service to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, with a stop in Visalia, California.
- 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.
- Merced Regional Airport (MCE) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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".
- During the 1950s the airport was used to service United States Armed Forces aircraft, and a land acquisition in February 1955 allowed runway 12/30 to be extended.
- The closest airport to Merced Regional Airport (MCE) is Castle Airport (MER), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) NNW of MCE.
- Between 1957 and 2007, Merced Regional Airport hosted the annual Merced West Coast Antique Fly-In.
Facts about Ladysmith Airport (LAY):
- The closest airport to Ladysmith Airport (LAY) is Mokhotlong Airport (MKH), which is located 64 miles (102 kilometers) SW of LAY.
- The furthest airport from Ladysmith Airport (LAY) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,789 miles (18,972 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Ladysmith Airport (LAY) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 63.59 miles (102.34 km) SW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 2 | 83.35 miles (134.14 km) SSE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 3 | 104.79 miles (168.64 km) W | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 108.73 miles (174.98 km) SE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 112.17 miles (180.53 km) SW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 117.02 miles (188.33 km) SW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 134.11 miles (215.83 km) SW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 142.22 miles (228.88 km) E | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 146.27 miles (235.40 km) WSW | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 158.42 miles (254.95 km) ENE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 11 | 161.42 miles (259.78 km) SSE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 12 | 165.67 miles (266.61 km) NNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 13 | 170.72 miles (274.75 km) NE | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 14 | 173.30 miles (278.90 km) WSW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 189.05 miles (304.24 km) NNW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,788.69 miles (18,972.01 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,779.63 miles (18,957.44 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,776.10 miles (18,951.74 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,774.16 miles (18,948.63 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,768.02 miles (18,938.75 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,762.72 miles (18,930.22 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,754.11 miles (18,916.36 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,753.63 miles (18,915.58 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,753.04 miles (18,914.64 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,745.58 miles (18,902.64 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,743.32 miles (18,898.99 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,742.27 miles (18,897.31 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,742.27 miles (18,897.31 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,741.74 miles (18,896.45 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,735.27 miles (18,886.04 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |