Nonstop flight route between Merced, California, United States and Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°17'4"N by 120°30'50"W)
Arrival Airport:
(28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E)
Distance from MCE to RCB:
10,750.82 miles (17,301.73 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MCE Airport Information
- RCB Airport Information
- Facts about MCE
- Facts about RCB
- 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 RCB
- List of Nearest Airports to RCB
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCB
- List of Furthest Airports from RCB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Merced Regional Airport (MCE), Merced, California, United States and Richards Bay Airport (RCB), Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,751 miles (or 17,302 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 Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay 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: | RCB / FARB |
| Airport Name: | Richards Bay Airport |
| Location: | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E |
| Operator/Owner: | uMhlathuze Local Municipality |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 109 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCB |
| More Information: | RCB Maps & Info |
Facts about Merced Regional Airport (MCE):
- 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.
- 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.
- On March 15, 1932 the Merced City Council accepted the title to the site of an airport as a gift from the Twenty-Thirty Club and the Crocker-Huffman Company.
- In addition to being known as "Merced Regional Airport", another name for MCE is "MacReady Field".
- United's DC-3s were replaced by Convair 340s and Douglas DC-6s, and eventually by Boeing 737-200 jetliners in 1968-69.
- The closest airport to Merced Regional Airport (MCE) is Castle Airport (MER), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) NNW of MCE.
- Merced Regional Airport covers 766 acres at an elevation of 155 feet above mean sea level.
- Bus connections to Yosemite National Park are available through the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System.
- 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.
Facts about Richards Bay Airport (RCB):
- The closest airport to Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hluhluwe Airport (HLW), which is located 52 miles (83 kilometers) NNE of RCB.
- Because of Richards Bay Airport's relatively low elevation of 109 feet, planes can take off or land at Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,689 miles (18,812 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) 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 | 51.82 miles (83.40 km) NNE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 2 | 84.75 miles (136.40 km) SW | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) WSW | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 4 | 142.22 miles (228.88 km) W | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 160.19 miles (257.81 km) NNW | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 6 | 180.06 miles (289.77 km) SW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 186.21 miles (299.68 km) WSW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 197.06 miles (317.14 km) N | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 9 | 221.74 miles (356.85 km) WSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 235.81 miles (379.50 km) WSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 239.78 miles (385.89 km) NNW | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 12 | 244.68 miles (393.77 km) W | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 254.51 miles (409.59 km) WSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 273.13 miles (439.56 km) N | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 15 | 274.02 miles (441.00 km) WNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,688.97 miles (18,811.52 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,676.26 miles (18,791.08 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,668.75 miles (18,778.99 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,668.60 miles (18,778.74 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,667.34 miles (18,776.72 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,667.27 miles (18,776.61 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,660.70 miles (18,766.03 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,658.80 miles (18,762.97 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,649.90 miles (18,748.65 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,647.45 miles (18,744.70 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,631.35 miles (18,718.80 km) NE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,629.30 miles (18,715.50 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,625.76 miles (18,709.81 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |