Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Grafton, New South Wales, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°45'36"S by 153°1'48"E)
Distance from MER to GFN:
7,251.68 miles (11,670.41 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- GFN Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about GFN
- 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 GFN
- List of Nearest Airports to GFN
- Map of Furthest Airports from GFN
- List of Furthest Airports from GFN
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN), Grafton, New South Wales, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,252 miles (or 11,670 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 Clarence Valley 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 Castle Airport and Clarence Valley 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: | 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: | GFN / YGFN |
| Airport Name: | Clarence Valley Regional Airport |
| Location: | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°45'36"S by 153°1'48"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Clarence Valley Council |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 110 feet (34 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GFN |
| More Information: | GFN Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- 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.
- 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
Facts about Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN):
- Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN) is Santa Maria Airport (SMA), which is located 11,928 miles (19,196 kilometers) away in Santa Maria, Portugal.
- Because of Clarence Valley Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 110 feet, planes can take off or land at Clarence Valley 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.
- The closest airport to Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN) is Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS), which is located 39 miles (63 kilometers) S of GFN.
| 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 | 39.04 miles (62.83 km) S | Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) | Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 2 | 51.70 miles (83.20 km) NNE | Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (EVH) | Evans Head, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 3 | 65.87 miles (106.00 km) NNE | Lismore Airport (LSY) | Lismore, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 4 | 71.59 miles (115.22 km) NNE | Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) | Ballina, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 5 | 80.62 miles (129.75 km) W | Glen Innes Airport (GLI) | Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 92.13 miles (148.27 km) S | Kempsey Airport (KPS) | Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 7 | 99.74 miles (160.52 km) WSW | Armidale Airport (ARM) | Armidale, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 113.39 miles (182.48 km) W | Inverell Airport (IVR) | Inverell, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 9 | 113.88 miles (183.28 km) NNE | Gold Coast Airport (OOL) | Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia | |
| 10 | 116.21 miles (187.02 km) S | Port Macquarie Airport (PQQ) | Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 11 | 121.75 miles (195.94 km) NW | Stanthorpe Airport (SNH) | Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia | |
| 12 | 158.88 miles (255.70 km) SW | Tamworth Airport (TMW) | Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 13 | 164.30 miles (264.41 km) N | Brisbane Airport (BNE) | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | |
| 14 | 184.56 miles (297.02 km) WNW | Goondiwindi Airport (GOO) | Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia | |
| 15 | 185.36 miles (298.31 km) WSW | Gunnedah Airport (GUH) | Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,927.70 miles (19,195.73 km) NNW | Santa Maria Airport (SMA) | Santa Maria, Portugal | |
| 2 | 11,880.50 miles (19,119.76 km) N | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 11,875.68 miles (19,112.00 km) W | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 4 | 11,834.90 miles (19,046.38 km) W | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 5 | 11,823.39 miles (19,027.86 km) N | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 11,823.39 miles (19,027.86 km) N | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 11,814.79 miles (19,014.01 km) N | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 11,801.75 miles (18,993.03 km) WNW | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 9 | 11,797.05 miles (18,985.46 km) W | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 10 | 11,789.48 miles (18,973.28 km) W | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 11 | 11,789.18 miles (18,972.80 km) N | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 12 | 11,770.50 miles (18,942.74 km) WNW | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 13 | 11,726.39 miles (18,871.74 km) NNE | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 14 | 11,724.82 miles (18,869.21 km) W | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) | Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 15 | 11,712.97 miles (18,850.15 km) NNE | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |