Places to Fly Before You Die- Midwest Edition

CrashAxe said:
Mackinac Island IS really cool. Just pay close attention to the pattern instructions, don't do touch and goes, and make sure you are hungry for fudge.

I am all for seeing people flying to my area, but KIMT is definitely not the ultimate ski destination. It is like a $100 hamburger run as far as skiing goes.

That said, if anyone is coming to or stopping at KIMT, let me know in advance and I will be happy to show you around and take you to a nice dinner.
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Do you have any experience with Mt Bohemia? I've been thinking of flying to OTG or CMX and renting a car to get there.
 
I had never even heard of it before you posted it. I can make inquiries though if you would like.

Don't read too much into my not having heard of it, however. Although I have lived here for 15 years, much of that time has been spent traveling for work or otherwise unavailable for sightseeing.

I haven't flown into either airport either. I have spent most of my time flying South rather than North.

Did you mean OGM rather than OTG?

Assuming you meant OGM, given the choice, I would fly into KCMX. With MTU being there, your rental car choices are going to be a lot better than OGM. If you try to pass through Houghton during the ice festival, you can kill two birds with one stone.

When you come, stop in Gay, MI and get your picture taken in front of the sign for the Gay Bar. No, I am not kidding... LOL
 
Cap'n Jack said:
That's what I meant.



For roughly the same flying time as flying to Chicago, the original poster could fly to New York City. Although terrorists flew into buildings along with Cory Lidle, they still have the Hudson River corridor open- I'd rather spend my money in a place that actually wants it. Besides, they know how to make proper pizza in NYC:yesnod:

Just curious- what can't you get except by going to the city? Lincoln, NE isn't exactly NYC, or even Chicago, but we get everything we want or need, even for my wife's exotic cooking. If I can't find it here, there's always the internet...
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Got a captured submarine you can tour? King Tut exhibit?
 
CrashAxe said:
I had never even heard of it before you posted it. I can make inquiries though if you would like.

Don't read too much into my not having heard of it, however. Although I have lived here for 15 years, much of that time has been spent traveling for work or otherwise unavailable for sightseeing.

I haven't flown into either airport either. I have spent most of my time flying South rather than North.

Did you mean OGM rather than OTG?

Assuming you meant OGM, given the choice, I would fly into KCMX. With MTU being there, your rental car choices are going to be a lot better than OGM. If you try to pass through Houghton during the ice festival, you can kill two birds with one stone.
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Yeah, for some reason I always want Ontanogon to be OTG. I was thinking that the ski area was between OGM and CMX but now I see that it's north of both and CMX is a little closer.
 
gismo said:
Got a captured submarine you can tour? King Tut exhibit?
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:yawn:

Go to New London, CT (just a couple of hours away from NYC) and you can tour the first nuclear submarine. The King Tut exhibit was in NYC way back in the 70's. Besides- NYC got it's carrier back.

San Francisco also has a WWII fleet sub, I think Seattle has a Russian sub. Subs are all over the place.

As for Lincoln, NE- we have a football team, hot ladies volleyball team, a mammoth display, and corn and soybeans as far as the eye can see (even at 5000' AGL)
 
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gismo said:
Yeah, for some reason I always want Ontanogon to be OTG. I was thinking that the ski area was between OGM and CMX but now I see that it's north of both and CMX is a little closer.
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I just Googled car rentals at both airports. I think you better plan on KCMX, LOL. I didn't think Ontanogon would have any rental car places nearby, and it appears I was correct in my thinking.
 
Cap'n Jack said:
:yawn:

Go to New London, CT (just a couple of hours away) and you can tour the first nuclear submarine. The King Tut exhibit was in NYC way back in the 70's. Besides- NYC got it's carrier back.

San Francisco also has a WWII fleet sub
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So does Muskegon, MI - Manitowoc, WI - Cleveland, OH and Galveston, TX.
 
Doesn't Sporty's pass out hot dawgs in the summer over there in Ohio someplace?
 
Cap'n Jack said:
For roughly the same flying time as flying to Chicago, the original poster could fly to New York City. Although terrorists flew into buildings along with Cory Lidle, they still have the Hudson River corridor open- I'd rather spend my money in a place that actually wants it. Besides, they know how to make proper pizza in NYC:yesnod:

Just curious- what can't you get except by going to the city? Lincoln, NE isn't exactly NYC, or even Chicago, but we get everything we want or need, even for my wife's exotic cooking. If I can't find it here, there's always the internet...
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I would rather go to Lincoln than NYC. You couldn't pay me to do the Hudson River corridor. One of the trips I want to take is to Omaha to see the zoo there. I interviewed for a job there once and I would love to take my fiancee as she has a love affair with zoos and aquariums (so if you have any suggestions to that end, please let me know!)
 
Cap'n Jack said:
:yawn:

Go to New London, CT (just a couple of hours away from NYC) and you can tour the first nuclear submarine. The King Tut exhibit was in NYC way back in the 70's. Besides- NYC got it's carrier back.

San Francisco also has a WWII fleet sub, I think Seattle has a Russian sub. Subs are all over the place.

As for Lincoln, NE- we have a football team, hot ladies volleyball team, a mammoth display, and corn and soybeans as far as the eye can see (even at 5000' AGL)
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But you said "Lincoln, NE isn't exactly NYC, or even Chicago, but we get everything we want or need". I didn't realize you meant Lincoln plus everywhere except Chicago. Those two items were just a couple of the things I enjoyed on the last two trips to Chicago. I would much rather have landed at Meigs again but denying myself and my wife the ability to visit Chicago's attractions hurts me a lot more than Duh Mare.
 
SteveinMichigan said:
I would rather go to Lincoln than NYC. You couldn't pay me to do the Hudson River corridor.
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One wonders why? It is a spectacular flight.
One of the trips I want to take is to Omaha to see the zoo there. I interviewed for a job there once and I would love to take my fiancee as she has a love affair with zoos and aquariums (so if you have any suggestions to that end, please let me know!)
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How about the Bronx Zoo? The New York Aquarium?

-Skip
 
Cap'n Jack said:
For roughly the same flying time as flying to Chicago, the original poster could fly to New York City. Although terrorists flew into buildings along with Cory Lidle, they still have the Hudson River corridor open- I'd rather spend my money in a place that actually wants it. Besides, they know how to make proper pizza in NYC:yesnod:
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Ummmm, not to burst your bubble here, but it's 139NM from Indy to Chicago (KEYE - 1C5), but 579NM from Indy to NYC (KEYE - KHPN). So unless you're in a TARDIS, it would be hard to call that "roughly the same flying time.":rofl:

Besides, they don't even know the meaning of the WORD "pizza" in New York City. Real pizza needs to be eaten with a knife and fork, not folded over like a taco!:mad2::rolleyes:
 
gprellwitz said:
Ummmm, not to burst your bubble here, but it's 139NM from Indy to Chicago (KEYE - 1C5), but 579NM from Indy to NYC (KEYE - KHPN). So unless you're in a TARDIS, it would be hard to call that "roughly the same flying time.":rofl:

Besides, they don't even know the meaning of the WORD "pizza" in New York City. Real pizza needs to be eaten with a knife and fork, not folded over like a taco!:mad2::rolleyes:
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Distance- you're right. I got discombobulated somehow. I think that flying to Chicago takes 2.5 hrs from here due to the constant delays at O'Hare but Omaha to NYC also takes 2.5 hours, and Indy is between NYC and Chicago.

As for pizza- you're supposed to taste the bread, the sauce, and the cheese. Not a mouthful of tomato paste and everything else under the sun.
 
gismo said:
But you said "Lincoln, NE isn't exactly NYC, or even Chicago, but we get everything we want or need". I didn't realize you meant Lincoln plus everywhere except Chicago. Those two items were just a couple of the things I enjoyed on the last two trips to Chicago. I would much rather have landed at Meigs again but denying myself and my wife the ability to visit Chicago's attractions hurts me a lot more than Duh Mare.
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Sorry- I was talking about NYC initially. You're right- there are things not here in Lincoln. There are a nice things too- like I rerely need to wait more than 2 lights to go through an intersection.

Chicago has nice things, but if I spend the time & money to see those things, my wife & I can see similar nice things in some other place.
 
SteveinMichigan said:
I would rather go to Lincoln than NYC. You couldn't pay me to do the Hudson River corridor. One of the trips I want to take is to Omaha to see the zoo there. I interviewed for a job there once and I would love to take my fiancee as she has a love affair with zoos and aquariums (so if you have any suggestions to that end, please let me know!)
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Cincinnati- http://www.cincinnatizoo.org/

How about Cleveland OH- they have a lakefront airport, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and I'm pretty sure they have a zoo

Chattanoga, TN and Pittsburgh, PA are supposed to have aquariums as well...
 
Cap'n Jack said:
Just curious- what can't you get except by going to the city? Lincoln, NE isn't exactly NYC, or even Chicago, but we get everything we want or need, even for my wife's exotic cooking. If I can't find it here, there's always the internet...
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Well! :rolleyes:

We get the big plays and musicals in Chicago, world class orchestra and opera. Chicago has the only French language book store in the whole area, plus lots of cool museums. the suburbs have the same 25 stores over and over and over. So we go in for our entertainment.
 
One wonders why? It is a spectacular flight.
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A couple of reasons:
1. I really don't like crowded airspace.
2. I really don't like being that close to buildings
3. I don't find the city scenery to be that spectacular (probably because I've been there a dozen times and flown that corridor before as a passenger in a helicopter).
4. I'm a very risk averse (student) pilot.
 
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Cap'n Jack said:
Cincinnati- http://www.cincinnatizoo.org/

How about Cleveland OH- they have a lakefront airport, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and I'm pretty sure they have a zoo

Chattanoga, TN and Pittsburgh, PA are supposed to have aquariums as well...
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Cleveland has an awesome zoo (and Gina's parents live in the area). BTW, Detroit has a fairly nice one was well, and it's not in the ghetto (read as : "not in Detroit itself"). Indianapolis also has a really great zoo if anyone wants to come visit. :)

Cincinnati will be on the list, mostly because it's so close which would make it a good first flight for Gina (who has never been in a plane before). Any preference on which airport to fly out of? The only airport I'm familiar with is CVG and I don't think taking a Cessna in there would be a good idea.

Any further comments from anyone on Chattanooga or Pittsburgh?
 
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SteveinMichigan said:
Cincinnati will be on the list, mostly because it's so close which would make it a good first flight for Gina (who has never been in a plane before).
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I would suggest NOT making her first flight (or anyone's) a cross country. First-time fliers are often nervous - You know how the public's perception of safety is altered by the media - And those nerves, combined with every little bump, may make someone airsick or at least nauseous. Having a "mission" to accomplish will lead them to not say anything to you for fear of messing up the mission.

With that in mind, you should take her flying just to go flying, at least once before you start with the missions. My trick is to ask MSN approach for a "city tour." I take off, we fly past the capitol, Camp Randall Stadium and the rest of the university, over their house if they're from the area, and then I go back and land before they even have a chance to think about being nervous. It's a positive experience for them, and they not only look forward to the next flight, they're a lot less nervous the next time.

Be *very* careful what you say, too. I know that you study a lot of the risks involved in flying and the shortcomings of some aircraft. This is not good dinner conversation for the night before the flight. :no: Even talking about why it's safe can be detrimental. For example, I took my best friend and his daughter flying. He's a nervous flyer. He started telling her that "There might be a few bumps in the air after takeoff, but it's not dangerous at all." She probably never would have even thought about danger until he said that.

Anyway, once you get her in the air for a quick (1/2 hour) flight, then start with the short cross country flights. You also said she's never been in a plane before - Even an airliner? Wow. If that's the case, you may find that she likes it enough to take it up herself, or at least enough that she lets you do more aviation-related trips in the future. :yes:
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I would suggest NOT making her first flight (or anyone's) a cross country. First-time fliers are often nervous - You know how the public's perception of safety is altered by the media - And those nerves, combined with every little bump, may make someone airsick or at least nauseous. Having a "mission" to accomplish will lead them to not say anything to you for fear of messing up the mission.

With that in mind, you should take her flying just to go flying, at least once before you start with the missions. My trick is to ask MSN approach for a "city tour." I take off, we fly past the capitol, Camp Randall Stadium and the rest of the university, over their house if they're from the area, and then I go back and land before they even have a chance to think about being nervous. It's a positive experience for them, and they not only look forward to the next flight, they're a lot less nervous the next time.

Be *very* careful what you say, too. I know that you study a lot of the risks involved in flying and the shortcomings of some aircraft. This is not good dinner conversation for the night before the flight. :no: Even talking about why it's safe can be detrimental. For example, I took my best friend and his daughter flying. He's a nervous flyer. He started telling her that "There might be a few bumps in the air after takeoff, but it's not dangerous at all." She probably never would have even thought about danger until he said that.

Anyway, once you get her in the air for a quick (1/2 hour) flight, then start with the short cross country flights. You also said she's never been in a plane before - Even an airliner? Wow. If that's the case, you may find that she likes it enough to take it up herself, or at least enough that she lets you do more aviation-related trips in the future. :yes:
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No, not even in an airliner. Chances are good that her first flight will just be a short flight around the local area with me and my new instructor. I was referring more to the idea of her first "flight" as in something with a "mission" as you put it. :)
 
First mission should be a short hop to someplace local that has something yummy to eat on or near the field. Sporty's is O.K., but not a bucket list destination. Most of the folks I know like Lunken field in Cincinnati, though I like Blue Ash, since it is near my favorite bagel place. Lee Bottom has a giant fly-in once a year that is really quite something, although I'm told any weekend in good weather will yield an eclectic collection of aircraft and pilots.
 
SteveinMichigan said:
No, not even in an airliner. Chances are good that her first flight will just be a short flight around the local area with me and my new instructor. I was referring more to the idea of her first "flight" as in something with a "mission" as you put it. :)
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If you're talking about taking her along on a training flight, I recommend you consider the type of training flight carefully. Riding in the back seat during maneuvers that involve a lot of turning flight might just sour her completely on the idea of flying in a small airplane and if she's along when your CFI critiques your errors during landing practice might give her the impression that you will never be capable of landing an airplane safely.

For someone who's seriously interested in flying or better yet in learning to fly themselves, a ride-along during another student's training flight can be both informative and entertaining but someone who's already apprehensive about flying might have an entirely different (and unpleasant) experience.
 
gismo said:
If you're talking about taking her along on a training flight, I recommend you consider the type of training flight carefully. Riding in the back seat during maneuvers that involve a lot of turning flight might just sour her completely on the idea of flying in a small airplane and if she's along when your CFI critiques your errors during landing practice might give her the impression that you will never be capable of landing an airplane safely.

For someone who's seriously interested in flying or better yet in learning to fly themselves, a ride-along during another student's training flight can be both informative and entertaining but someone who's already apprehensive about flying might have an entirely different (and unpleasant) experience.
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No, actually I was referring to the offer my instructor made to take her up sometime when we were both available and not on a training flight. Think of it as a "discovery flight" sort of deal.
 
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