Nonstop flight route between Washabo, Suriname and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Washabo Airstrip (WSO), Washabo, Suriname and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,546 miles (or 7,317 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 Washabo Airstrip 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 Washabo Airstrip 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 Washabo Airstrip (WSO):

• Because of Washabo Airstrip's relatively low elevation of 145 feet, planes can take off or land at Washabo Airstrip 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.
• In addition to being known as "Washabo Airstrip", another name for WSO is "SMWS".
• The furthest airport from Washabo Airstrip (WSO) is Betoambari Airport (BUW), which is nearly antipodal to Washabo Airstrip (meaning Washabo Airstrip is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Betoambari Airport), and is located 12,413 miles (19,976 kilometers) away in Bau-Bau, Buton, Indonesia.
• The closest airport to Washabo Airstrip (WSO) is Majoor Henry Fernandes Airport (ICK), which is located 50 miles (80 kilometers) N of WSO.

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
• 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.
• 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• 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.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.