This is one of the things that really burned me up about the closing of
Meigs (KCGX - Chicago, IL)...

When I was a kid, my dad, who was a WWII fighter pilot, used to frequently
take me out to the old Raleigh (NC) Municipal Airport on Saturday and Sunday
afternoons.

We could walk up and down the flight line, talking to the pilots, and there
were a couple of mostly parted out planes over by one of the FBO's where
they would allow me to sit in the cockpit and dream my six-year-old dreams.

And the airplanes! None of today's wall-to-wall 172's and Warriors; if it
had ever flown, you could probably find on tied down at Raleigh Muni.

Now flash back to Meigs...

As a matter of hard-core practicality, Meigs generated revenue for the city.
Now, they are turning it into what is known as a "natural prairie" park,
which, with apologies to the tree-huggers amongst us, is nothing more than a
weed-covered vacant lot.

Of course, Chicago is faced with the same revenue shortfalls as is every
other city, so they've decided to scrape up a few bucks by leasing a part of
their "nature park" to Clear Channel, so they can stage rock concerts there.

But consider this: what if Mayor Daley had not destroyed Meigs?

What if he had spent (probably less than) $50,000 to put a few nice picnic
tables just outside the fence at Meigs so people could sit out there and
watch the planes taking off and landing? He could have even put up a few of
the overpriced concession stands that we have in all of the parks and
brought in a little more revenue.

And I imagine the mayor could have found one of his wealthy supporters to
donate a worn out 152 (or similar) that could be permanently set up over by
the picnic area. Cut the wings back to stubs (to save space), remove the
engine and install a dummy prop, remove the doors, and let the kids enjoy
the same fantasies I was able to do as a kid.

How many new pilots do you think would have come out of that?

And please don't label me a liberal do-gooder, but keep in mind that Meigs
was centrally located and very accessible to everyone in the city. How many
inner-city black and Hispanic kids do you think will ever see a light
airplane anywhere other than in the movies.

How many lights do you think would have been lit behind those little brown
eyes if they could still see and touch a real airplane at Meigs?

But Meigs is gone; probably forever. I have heard that the "Friends of
Meigs" have been pushing a plan to rebuild the airport, but for that to
happen, Daley would have to admit he screwed up (like the evidence isn't all
around those of us who live in Chicago), and that ain't about to happen.

So tonight, thousands of little heads will hit pillows in our city, with the
little kids dreaming their dreams of owning Glocks or Uzis, instead of
dreaming of owning a 172 or a Warrior.

And while they will have a park full of weeds to play in, somehow I don't
think we will be the better for all of this...






"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:z888e.19937$GJ.13008@attbi_s71...
The "failed pilots" we should be concerned about are the ones who fail
because they are so intimidated by the process that they never even take
the
test.

I would prefer not to share the sky with those individuals, thanks.

That's just crap.

Walk into your airport today, Larry, with the eyes of a newbie. Try to
imagine knowing NOTHING about flying, and trying to get your foot in the
door. Imagine trying to know Step One to learning to fly, just by
standing
in your airport terminal building.

It's intimidating as hell, even at most uncontrolled fields. At a Class C
airport, you might as well be trying to break into Area 51.

In fact, it's so intimidating that people don't even consider the fact
that
they MIGHT be able to fly, let alone wonder who to speak with about it.
It's a terrible situation.

Without a mentor, most new pilots never get started. We've made airports
so
inaccessible that flying has become like some sort of priesthood, where
you
must be inducted into it by the Elders.

We're not Jedi Knights. While I love the thought that what I do is
special,
and that I've got knowledge that very few others have, we've simply got to
get past this ego thing if general aviation is to survive.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 15 Apr 2005 13:40:17 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote in
5vP7e.16612$xL4.10899@attbi_s72::