Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Balıkesir, Turkey:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(39°37'9"N by 27°55'32"E)
Distance from MER to BZI:
6,753.36 miles (10,868.46 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- BZI Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about BZI
- Map of Nearest Airports to MER
- List of Nearest Airports to MER
- Map of Furthest Airports from MER
- List of Furthest Airports from MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to BZI
- List of Nearest Airports to BZI
- Map of Furthest Airports from BZI
- List of Furthest Airports from BZI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Balıkesir Airport (BZI), Balıkesir, Turkey would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,753 miles (or 10,868 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 Castle Airport and Balıkesir 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 Castle Airport and Balıkesir Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MER / KMER |
| Airport Name: | Castle Airport |
| Location: | Atwater, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 191 feet (58 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MER |
| More Information: | MER Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BZI / LTBF |
| Airport Name: | Balıkesir Airport |
| Location: | Balıkesir, Turkey |
| GPS Coordinates: | 39°37'9"N by 27°55'32"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Turkish Air Force |
| Airport Type: | Military / Public |
| Elevation: | 340 feet (104 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BZI |
| More Information: | BZI Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
- 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.
- Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
Facts about Balıkesir Airport (BZI):
- Because of Balıkesir Airport's relatively low elevation of 340 feet, planes can take off or land at Balıkesir 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 Balıkesir Airport (BZI) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,249 miles (18,103 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
- The closest airport to Balıkesir Airport (BZI) is Bandırma Airport (BDM), which is located 48 miles (78 kilometers) N of BZI.
- Balıkesir Airport (BZI) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.26 miles (11.68 km) SSE | Merced Regional Airport (MCE) | Merced, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 27.12 miles (43.65 km) NW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States | |
| 3 | 27.51 miles (44.27 km) SW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.78 miles (47.92 km) W | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 5 | 36.91 miles (59.40 km) SE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.69 miles (73.53 km) N | Columbia Airport (COA) | Columbia, California, United States | |
| 7 | 51.03 miles (82.13 km) NW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 8 | 57.32 miles (92.24 km) SW | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 9 | 60.88 miles (97.98 km) SE | Fresno Chandler Executive AirportChandler Municipal Airport (Old) (FCH) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 10 | 62.71 miles (100.91 km) SE | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 11 | 68.82 miles (110.76 km) W | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 12 | 71.93 miles (115.77 km) WNW | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 13 | 73.96 miles (119.02 km) WSW | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 14 | 74.75 miles (120.29 km) W | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 15 | 75.76 miles (121.93 km) SW | Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Army Air Base (SNS) | Salinas, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,311.72 miles (18,204.41 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,301.64 miles (18,188.18 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,273.49 miles (18,142.87 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,260.93 miles (18,122.66 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,205.02 miles (18,032.69 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,196.39 miles (18,018.79 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,137.28 miles (17,923.67 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,111.96 miles (17,882.92 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,011.03 miles (17,720.49 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,008.37 miles (17,716.22 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,993.21 miles (17,691.82 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,972.89 miles (17,659.11 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,963.56 miles (17,644.10 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,945.21 miles (17,614.56 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,920.84 miles (17,575.35 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 48.35 miles (77.81 km) N | Bandırma Airport (BDM) | Bandırma, Turkey | |
| 2 | 48.78 miles (78.50 km) W | Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport) (EDO) | Balıkesir, Turkey | |
| 3 | 80.89 miles (130.17 km) WSW | Mytilene International Airport (MJT) | Mytilene, Lesbos Island, Greece | |
| 4 | 87.18 miles (140.31 km) WNW | Çanakkale Airport (CKZ) | Çanakkale, Turkey | |
| 5 | 90.87 miles (146.24 km) SSW | Çiğli Air Base (IGL) | Çiğli / İzmir, Turkey | |
| 6 | 97.20 miles (156.43 km) ENE | Yenişehir Airport (YEI) | Yenişehir, Bursa, Turkey | |
| 7 | 100.80 miles (162.21 km) SSW | İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) | İzmir, Turkey | |
| 8 | 104.79 miles (168.64 km) NNE | Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) | Istanbul, Turkey | |
| 9 | 104.96 miles (168.92 km) N | Çorlu Airport (TEQ) | Tekirdag, Turkey | |
| 10 | 105.65 miles (170.03 km) SE | Uṣak Airport (USQ) | Usak, Turkey | |
| 11 | 114.59 miles (184.41 km) NE | İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) | Istanbul, Turkey | |
| 12 | 115.53 miles (185.92 km) WNW | Gökçeada Airport (GKD) | Gökçeada, Turkey | |
| 13 | 122.85 miles (197.71 km) ESE | Zafer Airport (KZR) | Kütahya, Turkey | |
| 14 | 130.26 miles (209.63 km) SW | Chios Island National Airport (JKH) | Chios Island, Greece | |
| 15 | 134.50 miles (216.46 km) NW | Alexandroupolis International Airport (AXD) | Alexandroupolis, Greece | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,248.55 miles (18,102.74 km) S | Rurutu Airport (RUR) | Rurutu, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 11,165.00 miles (17,968.28 km) SSE | Mangaia Island Airport (MGS) | Mangaia Island, Cook Islands | |
| 3 | 11,151.37 miles (17,946.35 km) ESE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,084.93 miles (17,839.42 km) SSE | Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) | Avarua, Cook Islands | |
| 5 | 11,054.85 miles (17,791.01 km) SSE | Akatoka Manava Airport (Mauke Airport) (MUK) | Mauke Island, Cook Islands | |
| 6 | 11,030.06 miles (17,751.12 km) SSE | Mitiaro Island Airport (MOI) | Mitiaro Island, Cook Islands | |
| 7 | 10,914.78 miles (17,565.58 km) SW | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 10,909.03 miles (17,556.33 km) SW | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 10,905.29 miles (17,550.32 km) S | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 10,901.51 miles (17,544.23 km) S | Moorea Airport (MOZ) | Moorea, Windward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 10,851.09 miles (17,463.09 km) S | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 10,848.51 miles (17,458.94 km) SSW | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 10,838.05 miles (17,442.10 km) E | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 10,835.40 miles (17,437.85 km) S | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 10,834.30 miles (17,436.07 km) S | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |