The March edition of AOPA Pilot features an article observing the nearing 10 year anniversary of when then-Mayor Daley had crews bulldoze X's into the runway at Meigs Field. Those of us who track this hobby back to its earliest day remember all too well that by default, the original versions of MSFS started us off on that runway at Meigs Field. My first flights in FS were from Meigs to Champaign Williard Field in Champaign, IL, near where I attended USAF Meteorology School at nearby Chanute AFB at Rantoul, Illinois. Williard was the base of operation for subLogic and it's founders Bruce Artwick and Stu Moment. I had the pleasure of meeting both of them in Champaign in 1990, when their Flight Assignment: ATP was blocked from the market during a series of lawsuits with Microsoft. Some may also remember that in the late 1980s subLogic brought to market various scenery sets, culminating in a pair of US scenery sets (east and west) that first added all current-at-the-time broadcast NAV aids.

 

I am unable to link to the current article in AOPA Pilot, but here is a link to an archived article on the Meigs Field destruction. Makes very interesting reading.

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/03-1-157x.html

Wow. That long? I also fondly remember countless (virtual) takeoffs and landings at Meigs over the years, and having lived in Chicago prior to the wanton destruction, even saw it first hand a couple times.

even saw it first hand a couple times.

 

I lived in NW Indiana for several years and when my wife would take our two daughters to the Chicago museums I would drop them off and go hang out at Miegs. Don't recall what types they were, but there were a couple of dinosaurs at Meigs as well! My last visit was around 1994. Its beyond my understanding today, but in the hours I hung out there I never tried to hitch a ride.

 

Did you read the linked article?

Truly a case of "I'm going to do what I think is right; everybody else be damned!" regarding former Mayor Daley. Sad to read that the site is just sitting there, almost dormant.

 

That line of thinking seems eerily similar to what's going on in DC right now.

There is a good FSX Meigs Field file in the library. Bob.

That line of thinking seems eerily similar to what's going on in DC right now.

 

I was really leaning toward a comment like that in my OP. Funny, I saw a feature on NBC evening news tonight about the plight of New England cod fishermen due to new non-legislated regulations. Here in eastern Maryland, a fertile farming-intensive area, farmers are facing new non-legislated regs strictly limiting use of natural fertilizers like cattle and chicken manure. I guess next the executive branch will attempt to regulate the dumpings of wild deer, geese, foxes, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, and household pets!

 

Please, don't let this post distract from the historic significance of Meigs Field and it's place in flight simulator history.

 

There is a good FSX Meigs Field file in the library. Bob.

 

I am aware of that. Too bad it cannot undo a bad wrong!

There is a good FSX Meigs Field file in the library. Bob.

 

Thanks for that... need to get that installed as it should be one of those airports that "lives on" in FS like Kai Tak. Like FP, I too remember those Meigs to Champaign-Urbana runs in FS.

 

Summer of '89 I had the good fortune of flying to Meigs in a C172RG. My instructor, a friend and I were able to walk to a nearby restaurant for lunch for more than just a burger.

Looks like this list is compiled by the office of the Chicago Mayor, so no wonder why Meigs is not on the list. It should rank up there with Navy Pier!!!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chicago_Landmarks

The March edition of AOPA Pilot features an article observing the nearing 10 year anniversary of when then-Mayor Daley had crews bulldoze X's into the runway at Meigs Field.

I read that article just after I took the new issue out of the mailbox. It still brings me to tears to be reminded of Daley's perfidious and blatantly illegal actions, and just makes me wish again that I could walk up and smack him in the mouth... :blink:

Nice to see the FS community mentioned in the article!

 

Man,

 

Does this thread bring back memories! Even though I had first started "simming" with the Apple 2e by chug, chug, chugging my way down the runway between two black lines on a puke green monitor, my first "real" sim was fs98.

 

I would swap out the default Cessna for the default 747 at Meigs, empty all the passengers, used 5% fuel, full flaps and released my brakes at full throttle. I could rotate with feet to spare, then climb until I intercepted the giant ILS red squares, turn left to final and followed them down to O'Hare.

 

Hate to admit it, but I pretended that if I could do that, I could fly the real thing, at least that is what I told some friends of mine who were in awe of my incredible handling skills! :blush: Shhhh! Please don't tell anybody else! It's too embarrasing...

 

Kind regards,

link to March '13 AOPA article:

 

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2013/march/f_meigs.html

Wow, what a nostalgic thread.Evokes memories as well as timestamps how far we have come with the FS of those days and the associated hardware, to today's specs.

 

What fun I had learning the basics in the default Cessna.

 

Thanks FP for initiating this look-back down Memory Lane.

 

I would swap out the default Cessna for the default 747 at Meigs,

Amazing, Stephen. Have to admire you for trying that. I never even gave it a 2nd thought as I knew full well I could not only not come to grips with such a large bird, let alone contemplate taking off form Meigs with her, and here I am years----feel like decades----later, flying a PMDG MD-11 en route to FSDT's CYVR.

I would swap out the default Cessna for the default 747 at Meigs,

 

I loved landing and taking off again in the 747 at Meigs. In those days I didn't even think of fuel and passengers; I just jumped in and flew. "Feet to spare" pretty much sums up the experience. It was always really close.

 

At some point I discovered the ILS instruments and had a great time intercepting the beam and landing. I guess the frequency was already tuned for us. Many flights were done figuring out the optimum place to turn, just from the gauge. Eventually I tried it with a low ceiling, 200 feet or 500 feet, I don't remember. Everything is white, then suddenly there is the runway as perfect as can be.

 

I skipped a few versions of MSFS, and when I got FSX the first thing I did was try to find Meigs. What a disappointment. I did take off from the dirt there a couple of times, just for old times sake.

 

Hook

Ohh Iconic Meigs Field. My early days of flight simulator. Like a kid in a candy shop. With my RGB monitor, and X86 computer. 10mb MFM hard drive. LOL