Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from MER to IKB:
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- IKB Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about IKB
- 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 IKB
- List of Nearest Airports to IKB
- Map of Furthest Airports from IKB
- List of Furthest Airports from IKB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Wilkes County Airport (IKB), North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,169 miles (or 3,491 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 Wilkes County Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
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: | IKB / KUKF |
Airport Names: |
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Location: | North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 36°13'22"N by 81°5'53"W |
Area Served: | North Wilkesboro, North Carolina |
Operator/Owner: | Wilkes County |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 1301 feet (397 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from IKB |
More Information: | IKB Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
Facts about Wilkes County Airport (IKB):
- Wilkes County Airport (IKB) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Wilkes County Airport (IKB) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,508 miles (18,521 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In addition to being known as "Wilkes County Airport", another name for IKB is "UKF".
- The closest airport to Wilkes County Airport (IKB) is Hickory Regional Airport (HKY), which is located 37 miles (60 kilometers) SSW of IKB.