Chicago Skyline Is Best Viewed From The Air

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles)
07/02/2014 at 17:35 • Filed to: planelopnik

Did you know, that as long as you stay over the water, you can get as close to downtown Chicago as you want without permission, without air traffic control, hell, you aren't even required to have a radio in your aircraft.

It makes for one fine weekend sightseeing getaway.

DISCUSSION (39)

ttyymmnn > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 17:36

Nice. I miss that city, or at least my childhood memories of it.

For Sweden > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 17:38

This is a good time to remind everyone that Dick Daley is a horrible human being that makes Rob Ford look like Abraham Lincoln.

Chris Clarke > ttyymmnn
07/02/2014 at 17:39

As many times as I've been there (maybe a dozen), I've only ever visited the suburbs and never been downtown. This picture was the closest I've gotten.

RacecaR > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 17:41

Last week when I went up there, it was foggy. I REALLY wish I could have got a picture. All of downtown was shrouded in a fog. It was awesome looking.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > For Sweden
07/02/2014 at 17:41

Rahm makes him look like a saint.

Chris Clarke > For Sweden
07/02/2014 at 17:42

This can never be said enough.

Kinja'd!!!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 17:42

A close second was being out on a boat at sunset. I'll have to dig up my potato pics from last summer.

PheeNoIVI > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 17:43

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen

ttyymmnn > For Sweden
07/02/2014 at 17:44

Still upset about that little Meigs Field unpleasantness?

Arben72 > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 17:44

Chiraq respresentin here yo.

Chris Clarke > PheeNoIVI
07/02/2014 at 17:47

Do you need permission to drive down I-90 thru downtown Chicago?

For Sweden > ttyymmnn
07/02/2014 at 17:47

You are not?

doodon2whls > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 17:49

Only during rush hour... ;-)

doodon2whls > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 17:50

WOW, that's nutty, b/c the easterly approach to ORD is over Lake Michigan... Do you just stay out of a specific altitude range ?

Chris Clarke > doodon2whls
07/02/2014 at 17:57

Correct, there is an altitude restriction. I believe is something like remain below 4,000 ft.

Chris Clarke > doodon2whls
07/02/2014 at 17:59

Actually its lower. As low as 2,000 in some areas .

ranwhenparked > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 18:09

That was a total dick move.

ttyymmnn > For Sweden
07/02/2014 at 18:14

I implied that I'm not, but I really am. I lived in Chicago for a few years as a kid and remember Daly, Sr. Chicago doesn't tolerate crooked politicians—they demand 'em!

For Sweden > ttyymmnn
07/02/2014 at 18:16

The electoral records of Chicago show that, but the whole "illegal destruction of public property" thing is an unforgivable offense for me.

RX > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 18:19

It wasnt that they tore up that airport, it was how they did it. In the middle of the night, in secret. Those planes in the picture were all privately owned and stranded there. Had they been given notice, they could have left before. Instead, they had to be moved out by barge at a cost of 100s of thousands to the city. Which makes the BS parking tickets I receive even more insulting.

desertdog5051 > ttyymmnn
07/02/2014 at 18:20

*sniff* Me too. "My kind of town, Chicago is...".

RallyWrench > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 18:20

Just had that view a couple weeks ago for a connecting flight & thought the same thing. I texted my buddy who's from there to compliment him on how nice the place looked from the air.

desertdog5051 > For Sweden
07/02/2014 at 18:22

Hank Williams Jr. put it best. ..."It's a family tradition"... I hardly thing he makes Ford look that good.

PheeNoIVI > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 18:31

Little bit different

Chris Clarke > PheeNoIVI
07/02/2014 at 18:42

Why?

PheeNoIVI > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 18:46

Idk driving is somewhat enclosed and controlled. In a plane you can do anything and go anywhere. Pretty easy to just cross into the city and do something dumb. And it'd do a lot more damage then a car would.

RallyWrench > For Sweden
07/02/2014 at 18:50

So it's not the honorable Richard J Daley Plaza? And here I thought the Blues Brothers was nonfiction.

For Sweden > RallyWrench
07/02/2014 at 18:51

And Andrew Jackson is on the American $20 bill; what's your point?

RallyWrench > For Sweden
07/02/2014 at 19:14

None really, I know he was a douchebag. His name just reminded me of Blues Brothers.

Chris Clarke > PheeNoIVI
07/02/2014 at 19:25

That's a pretty common misconception. There's still very specific rules to follow just like driving to keep aircraft safe. And if anything did go wrong airplanes cause considerably less damage than automobiles but I can see why people think that. Mostly from media sensationalism.

PheeNoIVI > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 19:41

But you said you dont need a radio or anything to fly there right? So the rules wouldnt really matter if you didnt want them to?

Chris Clarke > PheeNoIVI
07/02/2014 at 19:51

Sure, but it's the same on the road. There are rules to follow and if you choose not to you risk getting hurt or getting in trouble. But you still don't need to tell anyone or get permission in either scenario.

PheeNoIVI > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 19:54

I know, im just saying the amount of destruction a plane could do is way more than a car.

tromoly > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 20:46

That's interesting how they can allow that, I've flown into O'Hare numerous times where we've gone over the lake, having planes without tower contact in an area where commercial flights also go doesn't sound safe.

prisoners > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 21:49

I thought it was brilliant. This area now is a beautifully landscaped park with an open-air concert venue. Tens of thousands enjoy this public land every summer. A much better use of the publically-owned lakefront.

Chris Clarke > tromoly
07/02/2014 at 21:50

It's actually outside of O'Hare's airspace so it doesn't conflict with any arriving traffic. As long as you stay below a certain altitude.

Chris Clarke > PheeNoIVI
07/02/2014 at 21:52

Not really. An average personal aircraft weighs much less than a car and a larger commercial airplane wouldn't be allowed to go here. Cars do way more damage than airplanes.

Chris Clarke > prisoners
07/02/2014 at 21:59

It might be a nice place but "a better use" is highly subjective". Plus it was against the law since it was federally protected. The general population takes for granted or can't comprehend the value that aviation brings to the community. All they focus on is noise and danger or what ever the media wants you to blindly believe but in reality it brings major dollars in revenue, opens transportation routes, and creates a more intimate community.

prisoners > Chris Clarke
07/02/2014 at 22:09

The Chicago Park District owns the land and decided to not renew the lease to the airport. The planes were flown off the taxiway and years of costly lawsuits were avoided that would've had the same end result.