Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(0°1'21"N by 18°17'18"E)
Distance from MER to MDK:
8,756.78 miles (14,092.64 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- MDK Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about MDK
- 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 MDK
- List of Nearest Airports to MDK
- Map of Furthest Airports from MDK
- List of Furthest Airports from MDK
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Mbandaka Airport (MDK), Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of the Congo would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,757 miles (or 14,093 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 Mbandaka 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 Mbandaka 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: | MDK / FZEA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| GPS Coordinates: | 0°1'21"N by 18°17'18"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1040 feet (317 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MDK |
| More Information: | MDK Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (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.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- 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.
- 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 airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- 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.
Facts about Mbandaka Airport (MDK):
- The closest airport to Mbandaka Airport (MDK) is Impfondo Airport (ION), which is located 110 miles (176 kilometers) N of MDK.
- Mbandaka Airport (MDK) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Mbandaka Airport (MDK) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is nearly antipodal to Mbandaka Airport (meaning Mbandaka Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cassidy International Airport), and is located 12,105 miles (19,481 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.
- In addition to being known as "Mbandaka Airport", other names for MDK include "Aéroport de Mbandaka" and "Mbandaka Airport".
| 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 | 109.57 miles (176.33 km) N | Impfondo Airport (ION) | Impfondo, Republic of the Congo | |
| 2 | 112.99 miles (181.84 km) SSE | Basango Mboliasa Airport (KRZ) | Kiri, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 3 | 132.83 miles (213.77 km) NE | Basankusu Airport (BSU) | Basankusu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 4 | 136.09 miles (219.02 km) S | Inongo Airport (INO) | Inongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 5 | 166.05 miles (267.23 km) WSW | Owando Airport (FTX) | Owando, Republic of the Congo | |
| 6 | 180.49 miles (290.47 km) E | Boende Airport (BNB) | Boende, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 7 | 185.11 miles (297.90 km) WSW | Oyo Ollombo Airport (OLL) | Oyo, Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo | |
| 8 | 186.96 miles (300.88 km) W | Makoua Airport (MKJ) | Makoua, Republic of the Congo | |
| 9 | 193.86 miles (311.98 km) SSW | Nioki Airport (NIO) | Nioki, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 10 | 209.69 miles (337.46 km) N | Bétou Airport (BTB) | Betou, Republic of the Congo | |
| 11 | 212.20 miles (341.50 km) SW | Gamboma Airport (GMM) | Gamboma, Republic of the Congo | |
| 12 | 213.58 miles (343.73 km) WSW | Boundji Airport (BOE) | Boundji, Republic of the Congo | |
| 13 | 238.69 miles (384.14 km) SSW | Bandundu Airport (FDU) | Bandundu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 14 | 249.02 miles (400.75 km) WSW | Ewo Airport (EWO) | Ewo, Republic of Congo | |
| 15 | 259.59 miles (417.77 km) W | Kelle Airport (KEE) | Kelle, Republic of the Congo | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,105.07 miles (19,481.17 km) WNW | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 2 | 11,720.95 miles (18,862.99 km) ESE | Canton Island Airport (CIS) | Canton Island, Kiribati | |
| 3 | 11,719.46 miles (18,860.59 km) S | Manihiki Island Airport (MHX) | Manihiki Island, Cook Islands | |
| 4 | 11,323.33 miles (18,223.08 km) SSE | Fitiuta Airport (FTI) | Fiti‘uta, American Samoa, United States | |
| 5 | 11,319.69 miles (18,217.24 km) SSE | Tau Airport (TAV) | Tau, American Samoa | |
| 6 | 11,317.15 miles (18,213.14 km) SSE | Ofu Airport (OFU) | Ofu, American Samoa | |
| 7 | 11,275.74 miles (18,146.50 km) SSE | Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) | Pago Pago, American Samoa | |
| 8 | 11,260.62 miles (18,122.16 km) SE | Fagali'i Airport (FGI) | Apia, Samoa | |
| 9 | 11,250.90 miles (18,106.53 km) SE | Faleolo International Airport (APW) | Apia, Upolu Island, Samoa | |
| 10 | 11,245.43 miles (18,097.71 km) SE | Maota (Salelologa) Airport (MXS) | Maota, Samoa | |
| 11 | 11,242.62 miles (18,093.20 km) SE | Asau Airport (AAU) | Asau, Samoa | |
| 12 | 11,162.69 miles (17,964.57 km) NNE | Johnston Atoll Airport (JON) | Johnston Atoll, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands | |
| 13 | 11,132.68 miles (17,916.27 km) SSW | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,114.81 miles (17,887.51 km) SSW | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 11,087.18 miles (17,843.04 km) SE | Wallis Island (WLS) | Wallis and Futuna Islands | |