Nonstop flight route between Vopnafjörður, Iceland and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Vopnafjörður Airport (VPN), Vopnafjörður, Iceland and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,304 miles (or 6,927 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 Vopnafjörður 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 Vopnafjörður Airport and Castle 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 Vopnafjörður Airport (VPN):

• The furthest airport from Vopnafjörður Airport (VPN) is Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS), which is located 11,132 miles (17,915 kilometers) away in Stewart Island, New Zealand.
• The closest airport to Vopnafjörður Airport (VPN) is Egilsstaðir Airport (EGS), which is located 33 miles (53 kilometers) SSE of VPN.
• Because of Vopnafjörður Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at Vopnafjörður 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.
• Vopnafjörður Airport (VPN) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Vopnafjörður Airport", another name for VPN is "Vopnafjarðarflugvöllur".

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• 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.
• 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 Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
• 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.
• 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.
• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.