Finished work early… Now time to go home from Chicago… I just couldn’t resist taking a slight detour to land in 2 new states.
The route is show below and includes a quick lunch in Iowa and an even quicker stop in Missouri.
But this makes state # 25!!!
Weather was CAVU after getting above the cloud deck… (But quite bumpy below that)
I expected the midwest to have lots of farmland… But didn’t expect all the windmills… Who knew how green
IL would be!!
The mighty Mississippi River really didn’t look that grand in Iowa. (Way cooler in Louisiana)
Burlington, IA was an awesome find… Great little airport, multiple instrument approaches and
even a really cool local restaurant walking distance from the airport… (Hearty lunch of
Iowa corn-fed beef really hits the spot)
Beleive it or not, Burlington is a commercial airport. The airport terminal was incredibly small! … Notice the baggage claim area that serves all 4 commercial
flights that arrive here daily from Chicago and St Louis.
Onward to the next stop (next state) Hannibal, Missouri (STATE # 25!!!)
On the way to Hannibal, Mo, a really cool bridge crossing the Mississippi.
No matter state you land in, always some cool planes to see… This was the towplane used by the
local flight school to for sailplane lessons.
OK enough detours… Really, really time to go home now… Cruising @ 17500 FT… With oxygen and a really nice tailwind! Almost Home!!!
Weather was CAVU after getting above the cloud deck… (But quite bumpy below that)I expected the midwest to have lots of farmland… But didn’t expect all the windmills… Who knew how greenIL would be!!
The mighty Mississippi River really didn’t look that grand in Iowa. (Way cooler in Louisiana)Burlington, IA was an awesome find… Great little airport, multiple instrument approaches andeven a really cool local restaurant walking distance from the airport… (Hearty lunch of
Iowa corn-fed beef really hits the spot)
Beleive it or not, Burlington is a commercial airport. The airport terminal was incredibly small! … Notice the baggage claim area that serves all 4 commercialflights that arrive here daily from Chicago and St Louis.
Onward to the next stop (next state) Hannibal, Missouri (STATE # 25!!!)On the way to Hannibal, Mo, a really cool bridge crossing the Mississippi.No matter state you land in, always some cool planes to see… This was the towplane used by thelocal flight school to for sailplane lessons.
OK enough detours… Really, really time to go home now… Cruising @ 17500 FT… With oxygen and a really nice tailwind! Almost Home!!!
Cheers,
== T.J.==
== T.J.==
Here is really cool airport just northeast of Atlanta (KMLJ), which looked very cool from the air…
After Atlanta, time to cross to some small mountains (ok maybe hills)… But scenic either way!
Weather forecast was not very cooperative. (But still safely within my comfort zone.)
Despite being in the middle of the afternoon, I was in such solid IMC, that it felt like night flying!
Some cool airport (don’t remember which one) Looked like a runway inside a stop sign to me…
Getting close to Chicago (could barely see it through the haze)
The Crystal River Nuclear Power plant… (Rather cool site in an otherwise empty part of the state)
Aerial view of the Crystal River airport. (Did lots of landing practice there as a student pilot years ago)
Found a gr8 parking spot @ MEI next to some military trainers. (Notice the Navy and Marines use the same training fleet)
Capt Taylor graciously allowed me to climb Up to the cockpit of his bird.