Chikago Meigs Field (KCGX) - Frasca Field, Urbana in Champaign County (S16)
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 7:23 pmThe dramatic shutdown of Meigs Field in 2003 remains an unforgettable moment for aviation enthusiasts and flight simulation fans. Under the cover of night, then-Mayor Richard Daley ordered bulldozers to tear large "X" marks into the runway, effectively grounding any flight operations. Sixteen aircraft were stranded on-site and had to be evacuated via a taxiway. Daley's official reason for this action was security concerns following 9/11, but it was widely believed that he had long aimed to convert the island into a park. By acting so abruptly, without giving the federally mandated 30-day notice for airport closures, the city incurred a fine of around $33,000.
While discussions about restoring Meigs Field have occasionally surfaced, the likelihood of it reopening remains slim. Since its closure, the area has been transformed into Northerly Island Park, which has seen its share of challenges, including shoreline erosion due to rising water levels on Lake Michigan. Many aviation and simulation enthusiasts hold onto the hope of seeing Meigs Field rebuilt, as it was an iconic gateway for generations of virtual pilots. Despite its physical absence, Meigs Field lives on in the digital world, serving as a nostalgic landmark for long-time MSFS users.
It's no surprise that flying the iconic Meigs-to-Frasca Field route brings back memories, as it represents a nostalgic journey in the world of flight simulation.
I took on the classic Meigs-to-Frasca route yesterday, flying the same model I used back in FS4: the Cessna 182RG. Back then, we didn’t have GPS onboard, so all navigation was done the old-fashioned way—relying on VOR, NDB, and even some dead reckoning. Today, though, I’m using the Carenado version of the 182RG in MSFS, which brings a lot more realism to the experience. To make it even better, I’ve installed the TDS Garmin 750, which offers all the modern nav features we could only dream about in the early days of flight simming.
The Garmin 750 not only brings moving map displays but also a sleek, intuitive touchscreen, allowing for far more precise navigation compared to the tools in FS4. Having this blend of classic aircraft and advanced avionics feels like the best of both worlds—it’s like paying homage to those early sim days while enjoying the conveniences of modern flight technology. For me, it’s a true mix of nostalgia and innovation that makes these flights feel as engaging as they did decades ago.
While discussions about restoring Meigs Field have occasionally surfaced, the likelihood of it reopening remains slim. Since its closure, the area has been transformed into Northerly Island Park, which has seen its share of challenges, including shoreline erosion due to rising water levels on Lake Michigan. Many aviation and simulation enthusiasts hold onto the hope of seeing Meigs Field rebuilt, as it was an iconic gateway for generations of virtual pilots. Despite its physical absence, Meigs Field lives on in the digital world, serving as a nostalgic landmark for long-time MSFS users.
It's no surprise that flying the iconic Meigs-to-Frasca Field route brings back memories, as it represents a nostalgic journey in the world of flight simulation.
I took on the classic Meigs-to-Frasca route yesterday, flying the same model I used back in FS4: the Cessna 182RG. Back then, we didn’t have GPS onboard, so all navigation was done the old-fashioned way—relying on VOR, NDB, and even some dead reckoning. Today, though, I’m using the Carenado version of the 182RG in MSFS, which brings a lot more realism to the experience. To make it even better, I’ve installed the TDS Garmin 750, which offers all the modern nav features we could only dream about in the early days of flight simming.
The Garmin 750 not only brings moving map displays but also a sleek, intuitive touchscreen, allowing for far more precise navigation compared to the tools in FS4. Having this blend of classic aircraft and advanced avionics feels like the best of both worlds—it’s like paying homage to those early sim days while enjoying the conveniences of modern flight technology. For me, it’s a true mix of nostalgia and innovation that makes these flights feel as engaging as they did decades ago.