Well...not exactly the Corn fields...but close...🙂...In my previous post (see it if you like), I'd chosen to fly high above the (Canadian) Cascade Range...with mountains characterized by volcanic peaks and icy glaciers. Today, the day after, thanks to the limitless possibilities afforded by our hobby...🙂, I've chosen to fly for this post, a short 80-miles trip, over the flatlands of Midwest, recreating a train-journey I had recently taken during the Christmas break last year. Now, you might have heard (or read) that this region of the Midwestern U.S. (consisting of states such as Illinois and Indiana) is part of the (so-called) Corn Belt, known for its corn and soybean production. And, yes, it's also flat...🙂...Consider this...Chicago O'Hare (KORD) is at an elevation of ~700 ft and my destination of today's flight, South Bend Airport (KSBN), has an elevation of ~800 ft. So, as I travelled ~80 miles from KORD to KSBN today, I gained a cumulative height of about 100 ft in ground elevation...approximately 1.25 ft per mile...a far cry from my previous flight where, after lifting off from Whitehorse airport (CYXY) in Yukon, I'd to rapidly climb to ~12,000 ft or higher to stay clear of the immediately impending mountains. 

So, during my end-of-year holidays last year, I'd made a choice to travel by the South Shore commuter railway line operating between the Union Station in Chicago and the South Bend International Airport in Indiana (the easternmost terminus of this railway line). If you examine my MSFS World Map below (shot #2) or one of the MSFS (default) EFB Map displays, you'll know why it's called the "South Shore Line". The train track essentially makes its way eastward, closely following the contour of the southern cusp of Lake Michigan. A bit of side note: You might recall, I'd recently mentioned via one of my posts that that my one-time alma mater (and place of domicile) Ohio State University was crowned with the ultimate (College) Football Glory for this year...🙂...by beating the University of Notre Dame team, located in the town of South Bend, Indiana. In fact, in the past, I've had connections to the South Bend Campus, occasionally travelling there by road or/and by train (but never via air). And thanks to acquaintances in campus there (and availability of free game tickets), I've had also chance to attend Football Games there. 

Whether one travels by road or train, the Chicago to South Bend trip takes about an hour and a half. On the roadway, essentially, once you get to escape the din-and-bustle and dense traffic of Chicago downtown, you're soon travelling fast un-hindered through the corn fields...🙂...The train journey is similar. Once you get out of the (busy) Union Station terminus, you speed on towards the heartland of Indiana...through a variety of interesting landscapes...farmlands, industrial parks, and woodlands etc. I have always enjoyed this (short) train ride.

So, here we go, as I fly my PC-12 for this post (btw, please note this is the classic or legacy version PC-12, not the modern or next-gen PC-12 NGX version), from KORD to KSBN, transiting (en-route) through two of the primary towns/waypoints Gary (KGYY) and Michigan City (KMGC), both located in Indiana (see my EFB Map), exactly as the (RW) train or roadway would do. Lifting off eastward from O'Hare, I have flown straight to the lake shore first, and then tracked the shoreline, south and east...around the lake...heading towards my destination South Bend Airport. I've landed on ILS Runway 27L of KSBN.

This is certainly no (exciting) flight over the Cascades...🙂..., but still I found it interesting in its own way...especially when correlated to my (recent) RW travel over the same route...with sights and feelings...very similar...

Thanks for viewing...! Hope you enjoy...!

Fine set, thanks for showing..

cheers 😉

Interesting flight. South Bend aerial shots look very good. I never tire of Midwest GA flying in the sim: Wisconsin and Iowa especially.

Edited February 10, 20251 yr by John F

Nice screens P_7878!

Darryl

Beautiful shots! 😉 

pmplayer, John, Darryl, Will:

Many thanks for the comments...! Glad you enjoyed this breath of fresh air from the plains of the midwest...🙂...