Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Michael Army AirfieldDugway Army Airfield (DPG), Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 455 miles (or 732 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 relatively short distance between Castle Airport and Michael Army AirfieldDugway Army Airfield, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• 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 EPA currently has this base listed on their database due to the bulk wastes such as solvents, oils, fuels, and sludges which were disposed in pits at landfills around the base until 1977.
• 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.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.

Facts about Michael Army AirfieldDugway Army Airfield (DPG):

• The closest airport to Michael Army AirfieldDugway Army Airfield (DPG) is Delta Municipal Airport (DTA), which is located 61 miles (98 kilometers) SSE of DPG.
• The furthest airport from Michael Army AirfieldDugway Army Airfield (DPG) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,007 miles (17,715 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• Michael AAF previously had a 13,125-foot runway which was in poor condition.
• Michael Army AirfieldDugway Army Airfield (DPG) currently has only 1 runway.
• It has been called the "new Area 51" by some, with the Dugway Proving Ground serving as a buffer zone, as the Nevada Test Site served for Groom Lake.
• Because of Michael Army AirfieldDugway Army Airfield's high elevation of 4,349 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at DPG. Combined with a high temperature, this could make DPG a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.