Learning Flight #1: Beardstown to Chandlerville
This short flight is just one of my attempts to begin learning the controls of Microsoft FlightSim 2020. I remember the “Wow Factor” of the first version of FS back in 1982. This version, especially when I turn on VR, is an entirely new level of “Wow!” But right now, it’s just “Where is that dial?”, and “Which button do I push?”
This flight begins at the Greater Beardstown Airport (KOG), about three miles South of town. I remember when the airport was built. The only thing cooler than the airport was the Beardstown Dragstrip just another mile or so further South. I am flying a little Cessna today because it is easier to learn.
Flying South from the Beardstown Municipal Airport, we made the turn to the Northwest to get a view of my home town on the river.
Reaching the Ilinois River, we turned Northeast to get a nice view of town from over Curry Lake. Sometime remind me to tell you the story of my grandfather almost throwing my dad out of the boat when he made too much noise fishing. This was also a test of the realism of FS 2020, as I saw the highway bridge but not the railroad bridge further up-river.
Just North of town where the railroad bridge ought to be you can see the Marina and Meyer’s Pond. The “Pond” used to be much more wide-open water before the silting filled it in.
From the bay, I decided to head more to the East and follow the Sangamon River. Now it is a relatively calm stream “contained” by levees, but in Lincoln’s day it was more of a challenge with rapids that gave the rafters quite a challenge. That’s how Lincoln first came to New Salem which we will visit another day.
Our final view from the flight is from the Eastern edge of the small town of Chandlerville, 15 miles or so up the Sangamon from Beardstown. This photo is a personal favorite of mine because of that glimpse of bright red you can see in the trees. That was my parent’s house, and Dad was so proud of having that brightly colored roof installed, “To drive the people around here nuts!”.