Nonstop flight route between Nelspruit, South Africa and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(25°22'59"S by 31°6'20"E)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from MQP to MER:
10,581.67 miles (17,029.50 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- MQP Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about MQP
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to MQP
- List of Nearest Airports to MQP
- Map of Furthest Airports from MQP
- List of Furthest Airports from MQP
- Map of Nearest Airports to MER
- List of Nearest Airports to MER
- Map of Furthest Airports from MER
- List of Furthest Airports from MER
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), Nelspruit, South Africa and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,582 miles (or 17,029 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 Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Castle 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 Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Castle Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MQP / FAKN |
| Airport Name: | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport |
| Location: | Nelspruit, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 25°22'59"S by 31°6'20"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Primkop Airport Management (Pty) Ltd. |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2829 feet (862 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MQP |
| More Information: | MQP Maps & Info |
Arrival 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 |
Facts about Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP):
- Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,884 miles (19,126 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) is Mala Mala Airport (AAM), which is located 48 miles (77 kilometers) NE of MQP.
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 47.75 miles (76.85 km) NE | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa |     |
| 2 | 71.15 miles (114.51 km) N | Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) | Hoedspruit, South Africa | |
| 3 | 80.14 miles (128.97 km) S | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 4 | 98.62 miles (158.72 km) ESE | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 5 | 100.00 miles (160.94 km) N | Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) | Phalaborwa, South Africa | |
| 6 | 148.31 miles (238.67 km) NW | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 7 | 180.63 miles (290.69 km) W | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 8 | 185.43 miles (298.43 km) WSW | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 9 | 185.66 miles (298.79 km) WSW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 10 | 189.29 miles (304.64 km) WSW | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 11 | 193.11 miles (310.78 km) WSW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | 195.20 miles (314.15 km) SSE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 13 | 201.69 miles (324.59 km) WSW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 14 | 236.03 miles (379.86 km) SSW | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 15 | 239.78 miles (385.89 km) SSE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,884.48 miles (19,126.16 km) ENE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,882.65 miles (19,123.22 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,869.71 miles (19,102.41 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,867.17 miles (19,098.32 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,866.68 miles (19,097.52 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,857.32 miles (19,082.46 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,856.15 miles (19,080.57 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,848.82 miles (19,068.78 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,839.96 miles (19,054.53 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,836.80 miles (19,049.44 km) NE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,834.40 miles (19,045.57 km) ENE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,799.21 miles (18,988.93 km) ENE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,799.21 miles (18,988.93 km) ENE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,797.76 miles (18,986.61 km) ENE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,791.58 miles (18,976.67 km) ENE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 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 | |