Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°27'24"S by 147°59'6"E)
Distance from MER to LHG:
7,491.28 miles (12,056.02 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- LHG Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about LHG
- 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 LHG
- List of Nearest Airports to LHG
- Map of Furthest Airports from LHG
- List of Furthest Airports from LHG
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG), Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,491 miles (or 12,056 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 Lightning Ridge 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 Lightning Ridge 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: | LHG / YLRD |
| Airport Name: | Lightning Ridge Airport |
| Location: | Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°27'24"S by 147°59'6"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Walgett Shire Council |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 540 feet (165 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LHG |
| More Information: | LHG Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (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.
- 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.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- 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 is a public use airport located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Merced, a city in Merced County, California, United States.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
Facts about Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG):
- Because of Lightning Ridge Airport's relatively low elevation of 540 feet, planes can take off or land at Lightning Ridge 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 Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG) is Collarenebri Airport (CRB), which is located 36 miles (58 kilometers) E of LHG.
- Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Lightning Ridge Airport (LHG) is Santa Maria Airport (SMA), which is located 11,784 miles (18,965 kilometers) away in Santa Maria, Portugal.
| 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 | 36.16 miles (58.20 km) E | Collarenebri Airport (CRB) | Collarenebri, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 2 | 61.38 miles (98.79 km) NNE | Dirranbandi Airport (DRN) | Dirranbandi, Queensland, Australia | |
| 3 | 78.67 miles (126.61 km) WSW | Brewarrina Airport (BWQ) | Brewarrina, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 4 | 108.02 miles (173.84 km) SSE | Coonamble Airport (CNB) | Coonamble, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 5 | 111.90 miles (180.08 km) E | Moree Airport (MRZ) | Moree, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 128.42 miles (206.68 km) WSW | Bourke Airport (BRK) | Bourke, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 7 | 150.48 miles (242.17 km) SSE | Coonabarabran Airport (COJ) | Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 155.22 miles (249.81 km) ENE | Goondiwindi Airport (GOO) | Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia | |
| 9 | 170.59 miles (274.54 km) SE | Gunnedah Airport (GUH) | Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 10 | 173.79 miles (279.68 km) NW | Cunnamulla Airport (CMA) | Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia | |
| 11 | 186.96 miles (300.89 km) SSE | Coolah Airport (CLH) | Coolah, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 12 | 191.98 miles (308.96 km) E | Inverell Airport (IVR) | Inverell, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 13 | 193.88 miles (312.02 km) S | Dubbo City Regional Airport (DBO) | Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 14 | 194.18 miles (312.51 km) SW | Cobar Airport (CAZ) | Cobar, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 15 | 204.58 miles (329.23 km) SE | Tamworth Airport (TMW) | Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,784.34 miles (18,965.01 km) NW | Santa Maria Airport (SMA) | Santa Maria, Portugal | |
| 2 | 11,782.83 miles (18,962.58 km) NNW | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 11,775.88 miles (18,951.39 km) NNW | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 4 | 11,759.08 miles (18,924.36 km) NNW | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | |
| 5 | 11,743.95 miles (18,900.01 km) N | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 11,735.17 miles (18,885.88 km) NNW | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 11,733.41 miles (18,883.05 km) NNW | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 11,729.22 miles (18,876.30 km) N | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 9 | 11,574.07 miles (18,626.62 km) W | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 10 | 11,535.41 miles (18,564.40 km) W | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 11 | 11,508.71 miles (18,521.43 km) WNW | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 12 | 11,496.98 miles (18,502.56 km) W | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 13 | 11,487.71 miles (18,487.62 km) W | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 14 | 11,483.59 miles (18,481.01 km) NNW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 15 | 11,479.56 miles (18,474.52 km) WNW | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |