Nonstop flight route between Salem, Illinois, United States and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from SLO to MER:
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- About this route
- SLO Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about SLO
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to SLO
- List of Nearest Airports to SLO
- Map of Furthest Airports from SLO
- List of Furthest Airports from SLO
- 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 Salem–Leckrone Airport (SLO), Salem, Illinois, United States and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,714 miles (or 2,759 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 Salem–Leckrone 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: | SLO / KSLO |
Airport Name: | Salem–Leckrone Airport |
Location: | Salem, Illinois, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 38°38'34"N by 88°57'51"W |
Area Served: | Salem, Illinois |
Operator/Owner: | Salem Airport Authority |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 573 feet (175 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from SLO |
More Information: | SLO 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 Salem–Leckrone Airport (SLO):
- Because of Salem–Leckrone Airport's relatively low elevation of 573 feet, planes can take off or land at Salem–Leckrone 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 Salem–Leckrone Airport (SLO) is Mt. Vernon Airport (MVN), which is located 23 miles (37 kilometers) SSE of SLO.
- The airport is named for Philip Leckrone, a flying instructor from Salem who fought in the Royal Air Force Eagle Squadrons during World War II.
- The furthest airport from Salem–Leckrone Airport (SLO) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,062 miles (17,802 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Salem–Leckrone Airport (SLO) currently has only 1 runway.
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.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- 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.
- 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.