Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Ullensaker (near Oslo), Norway:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL), Ullensaker (near Oslo), Norway would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,159 miles (or 8,303 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 Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, 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 Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. 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):

• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• 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.
• 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.
• The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
• EPA investigations have been completed at multiple areas of contamination including landfills, discharge areas, chemical disposal areas, fire training areas, fuel spill areas, and polychlorinated biphenyl spill areas.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.

Facts about Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL):

• The Norwegian–Danish army started using Gardermoen as a camp in 1740, although it was called Fredericksfeldt until 1788.
• The airlines needed to build their own facilities at Gardermoen.
• In addition to being known as "Oslo Airport, Gardermoen", another name for OSL is "Oslo lufthavn".
• To minimize the effect of using state grants to invest in Eastern Norway, parliament decided that the construction and operation of the airport was to be done by an independent limited company that would be wholly owned by the Civil Airport Administration.
• About half the airport operator's income is from retail revenue.
• Oslo Airport, Gardermoen handled 22,956,540 passengers last year.
• In addition to the main terminal, the airport operates its own VIP lounge for the Norwegian Royal Family, for members of the Norwegian government and members of foreign royal families and governments.
• The furthest airport from Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,261 miles (18,123 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• The choice of Gardermoen has spurred controversy, also after the matter was settled in parliament.
• Because of Oslo Airport, Gardermoen's relatively low elevation of 681 feet, planes can take off or land at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen 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 Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL) is Oslo Airport, Fornebu ( Closed ) (FBU), which is located 27 miles (44 kilometers) SW of OSL.
• The airport covers an area of 13 square kilometres and is based on the Atlanta model, with two parallel runways and a single terminal with two piers on a single line.
• Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL) has 2 runways.