Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Sheung Wan, China:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Shun Tak Heliport (HHP), Sheung Wan, China would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,993 miles (or 11,254 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 Shun Tak Heliport, 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 Shun Tak Heliport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• With its central location in the San Joaquin Valley, on the route of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system, and with a large, underdeveloped site, Castle Airport has been submitted as a possible location for the central maintenance facility for the system.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.
• 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.
• Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Shun Tak Heliport (HHP):

• The closest airport to Shun Tak Heliport (HHP) is Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), which is located only 15 miles (25 kilometers) W of HHP.
• The terminal is the main point of departure for ferries to Macau, although services also operate from the Hong Kong-China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and from Hong Kong International Airport.
• The furthest airport from Shun Tak Heliport (HHP) is Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza International Airport (TJA), which is nearly antipodal to Shun Tak Heliport (meaning Shun Tak Heliport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza International Airport), and is located 12,348 miles (19,871 kilometers) away in Tarija, Bolivia.
• The original heliport at the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal was built in 1990, and provided a single helipad situated over the western end of the inner pier.
• Apart from ferry and helicopter, the ferry terminal is a public transport hub to various parts of Hong Kong.
• Because of Shun Tak Heliport's relatively low elevation of 107 feet, planes can take off or land at Shun Tak Heliport 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.