Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Lonely, North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site (LNI), Lonely, North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,597 miles (or 4,179 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 Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site, 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 Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site. 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 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.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.

Facts about Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site (LNI):

• The radar station was upgraded with new radars and in 1994 was re-designated part of the North Warning System as a Short Range Radar Site, A-18, equipped with a minimally attended AN/FPS-124 surveillance radar.
• The facility contains a rough airstrip at an elevation of 17 feet above mean sea level.
• Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site (LNI) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site (LNI) is Alpine Airstrip (DQH), which is located 66 miles (106 kilometers) SE of LNI.
• The site is controlled by the Pacific Air Forces 611th Air Support Group, based at Elmendorf.
• Because of Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site's relatively low elevation of 17 feet, planes can take off or land at Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site 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.
• In addition to being known as "Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site", other names for LNI include " " and "AK71".
• The furthest airport from Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site (LNI) is Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM), which is located 10,219 miles (16,447 kilometers) away in Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica.