Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Kuruman, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(27°27'24"S by 23°24'41"E)
Distance from MER to KMH:
10,242.12 miles (16,483.05 km)
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- KMH Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about KMH
- 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 KMH
- List of Nearest Airports to KMH
- Map of Furthest Airports from KMH
- List of Furthest Airports from KMH
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH), Kuruman, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,242 miles (or 16,483 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 Johan Pienaar 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 Johan Pienaar 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: | KMH / FAKU |
| Airport Name: | Johan Pienaar Airport |
| Location: | Kuruman, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 27°27'24"S by 23°24'41"E |
| Area Served: | Kuruman, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4382 feet (1,336 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from KMH |
| More Information: | KMH Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (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.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- 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.
Facts about Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH):
- Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Johan Pienaar Airport's high elevation of 4,382 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at KMH. Combined with a high temperature, this could make KMH a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The closest airport to Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) is Kimberley Airport (KIM), which is located 124 miles (200 kilometers) SE of KMH.
- The furthest airport from Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is nearly antipodal to Johan Pienaar Airport (meaning Johan Pienaar Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Princeville Airport), and is located 12,032 miles (19,364 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
| 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 | 124.19 miles (199.87 km) SE | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 2 | 146.66 miles (236.03 km) WSW | Upington Airport (UTN) | Upington, South Africa | |
| 3 | 174.18 miles (280.31 km) NE | Mafikeng Airport (MBD) | Mmabatho, South Africa | |
| 4 | 209.21 miles (336.69 km) ESE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 5 | 211.40 miles (340.22 km) NE | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 6 | 213.05 miles (342.87 km) NNE | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 7 | 253.79 miles (408.44 km) NE | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 8 | 260.70 miles (419.56 km) NNW | Hukuntsi Airport (HUK) | Hukuntsi, Botswana | |
| 9 | 275.16 miles (442.82 km) ENE | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 10 | 283.23 miles (455.82 km) SE | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 287.16 miles (462.13 km) ESE | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 288.80 miles (464.78 km) W | Karasburg Airport (KAS) | Karasburg, Namibia | |
| 13 | 297.74 miles (479.16 km) ENE | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 14 | 298.78 miles (480.83 km) ESE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 303.96 miles (489.17 km) ENE | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,032.44 miles (19,364.28 km) NNE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,020.69 miles (19,345.37 km) NNE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,018.34 miles (19,341.59 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,014.22 miles (19,334.97 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,011.19 miles (19,330.09 km) NNE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,008.62 miles (19,325.96 km) NNE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,004.59 miles (19,319.47 km) N | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,004.49 miles (19,319.30 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,004.49 miles (19,319.30 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,001.82 miles (19,315.00 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,000.07 miles (19,312.20 km) N | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,988.10 miles (19,292.93 km) N | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,983.57 miles (19,285.64 km) N | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,975.30 miles (19,272.33 km) N | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,975.14 miles (19,272.07 km) N | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |