Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Tel Aviv, Israel:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Sde Dov Airport (SDV), Tel Aviv, Israel would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,379 miles (or 11,875 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 Sde Dov 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 Sde Dov Airport. 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.

Facts about Sde Dov Airport (SDV):

• In 1937, the mayor of Tel Aviv Israel Rokach asked the British mandate authorities for permission to create an airport in Palestine, promising to solve the transportation problem of Jews during the Arab revolt of 1936–39 when travelling around the region by ground was difficult and dangerous.
• The government set up a second committee in 1968 who suggested that the old east–west runway be closed and the airport's area reduced, allowing for development to the east of the airport.
• The furthest airport from Sde Dov Airport (SDV) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,669 miles (18,780 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
• In addition to being known as "Sde Dov Airport", another name for SDV is "שדה דב مطار سدي دوف".
• Because of Sde Dov Airport's relatively low elevation of 42 feet, planes can take off or land at Sde Dov 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 Sde Dov Airport (SDV) is Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) SE of SDV.
• Sde Dov Airport (SDV) currently has only 1 runway.
• The issue remained unresolved until late 2006 when it was announced that the airport would be vacated to make way for residential redevelopment.