Nonstop flight route between Norfolk, Virginia (near Virginia Beach and Williamsburg), United States and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(36°53'40"N by 76°12'3"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from ORF to MER:
2,420.90 miles (3,896.05 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- ORF Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about ORF
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to ORF
- List of Nearest Airports to ORF
- Map of Furthest Airports from ORF
- List of Furthest Airports from ORF
- 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 Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Norfolk, Virginia (near Virginia Beach and Williamsburg), United States and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,421 miles (or 3,896 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 relatively short distance between Norfolk International Airport and Castle Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ORF / KORF |
| Airport Name: | Norfolk International Airport |
| Location: | Norfolk, Virginia (near Virginia Beach and Williamsburg), United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 36°53'40"N by 76°12'3"W |
| Area Served: | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Norfolk |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 27 feet (8 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ORF |
| More Information: | ORF 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 Norfolk International Airport (ORF):
- Daily scheduled aircraft include ERJ135/140/145,CRJ200/700/900, E-170/175, Q200/300/400, MD80/90, A319, B737-300/-500/-700/-800, B757, B727, A310.
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF) has 2 runways.
- Because of Norfolk International Airport's relatively low elevation of 27 feet, planes can take off or land at Norfolk International 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.
- Changes continued throughout the 1990s as Norfolk International prepared for growth.
- In the 1960s, the transition from propeller driven aircraft to jets gathered full steam.
- The closest airport to Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is Naval Station Norfolk (NGU), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) WNW of ORF.
- The furthest airport from Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,769 miles (18,940 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about Castle Airport (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.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.10 miles (11.43 km) WNW | Naval Station Norfolk (NGU) | Norfolk, Virginia, United States |     |
| 2 | 10.60 miles (17.05 km) ESE | Naval Air Station Oceana (NTU) | Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States | |
| 3 | 15.69 miles (25.26 km) NW | Langley Field (LFI) | Hampton, Virginia, United States | |
| 4 | 22.98 miles (36.98 km) NW | Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) | Newport News, Virginia, United States | |
| 5 | 41.19 miles (66.29 km) WSW | Franklin Municipal Airport (FKN) | Franklin, Virginia, United States | |
| 6 | 43.84 miles (70.56 km) S | Elizabeth City Regional Airport (ECG) | Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States | |
| 7 | 49.88 miles (80.27 km) SSE | Pine Island Airport (DUF) | Corolla, North Carolina, United States | |
| 8 | 57.32 miles (92.24 km) NNE | Accomack County Airport (MFV) | Melfa, Virginia, United States | |
| 9 | 63.26 miles (101.81 km) SSW | Northeastern Regional Airport (EDE) | Edenton, North Carolina, United States | |
| 10 | 67.33 miles (108.35 km) SSE | First Flight Airport (FFA) | Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, United States | |
| 11 | 73.05 miles (117.56 km) SSE | Dare County Regional Airport (MEO) | Manteo, North Carolina, United States | |
| 12 | 74.61 miles (120.06 km) NW | Richmond International Airport (RIC) | Richmond, Virginia, United States | |
| 13 | 82.72 miles (133.13 km) NNE | Wallops Flight Facility Airport (WAL) | Wallops Island, Virginia, United States | |
| 14 | 89.31 miles (143.74 km) WSW | Halifax County Airport (RZZ) | Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, United States | |
| 15 | 96.82 miles (155.82 km) N | Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NHK) | Patuxent River, Maryland, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,768.76 miles (18,939.94 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,746.57 miles (18,904.22 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,723.64 miles (18,867.32 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,720.48 miles (18,862.23 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,688.21 miles (18,810.31 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,673.91 miles (18,787.30 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,664.21 miles (18,771.68 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,645.88 miles (18,742.19 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,642.12 miles (18,736.13 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,625.70 miles (18,709.70 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,592.87 miles (18,656.87 km) SW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,556.13 miles (18,597.74 km) SW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,552.83 miles (18,592.44 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,542.04 miles (18,575.06 km) SW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,483.93 miles (18,481.55 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 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 | |