Nonstop flight route between Padua, Italy and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA), Padua, Italy and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,997 miles (or 9,651 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 Padua “Gino Allegri” 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 Padua “Gino Allegri” 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 Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA):

• The furthest airport from Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (meaning Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,014 miles (19,335 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• The closest airport to Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA) is Vicenza “Tommaso Dal Molin” Airport (VIC), which is located only 20 miles (32 kilometers) NW of QPA.
• Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport (QPA) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport's relatively low elevation of 44 feet, planes can take off or land at Padua “Gino Allegri” 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 addition to being known as "Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport", another name for QPA is "Aeroporto di Padova “Gino Allegri”".

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 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.