Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Tel Aviv, Israel:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Sde Dov Airport (SDV), Tel Aviv, Israel would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,379 miles (or 11,875 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 Castle Airport and Sde Dov 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 Castle Airport and Sde Dov 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 Castle Airport (MER):

• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• 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 airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
• With its central location in the San Joaquin Valley, on the route of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system, and with a large, underdeveloped site, Castle Airport has been submitted as a possible location for the central maintenance facility for the system.
• 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.

Facts about Sde Dov Airport (SDV):

• Today, Sde Dov Airport mostly handles domestic flights within Israel, as well as light-aircraft activity and limited international flights, mostly to nearby Cyprus.
• The issue remained unresolved until late 2006 when it was announced that the airport would be vacated to make way for residential redevelopment.
• Sde Dov Airport (SDV) currently has only 1 runway.
• As the new residential area suffered from aircraft noise, residents joined in the demand that the airport be relocated.
• In addition to being known as "Sde Dov Airport", another name for SDV is "שדה דב مطار سدي دوف".
• The closest airport to Sde Dov Airport (SDV) is Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) SE of SDV.
• Because of Sde Dov Airport's relatively low elevation of 42 feet, planes can take off or land at Sde Dov 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 Sde Dov Airport (SDV) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,669 miles (18,780 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.