Thompson Aeronautical, the Great Lakes in short steps
From 1928, Thompson Aeronautical Corporation developed a regional Great Lakes network carrying passengers and mail with Stinson aircraft and even amphibious flying boats.
The plan follows a fine Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Michigan, Indiana and Chicago loop, with a strong scenic dimension: Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan are never far away.
An American regional network before integration into American Airways.
Passengers, mail and lake scenery.
An old touring aircraft fits very well.
Short steps, industrial cities and great bodies of water.
Understanding the flight
TAC sells transport and scenery equally. The Great Lakes are a tourist argument, not just background to cross quickly.
This page is ideal for slow flying, with many short arrivals and departures, almost like a regional omnibus line.
Before departure
- Choose an old aircraft, stable and pleasant in short patterns.
- Use lake weather: variable visibility, but not enough to erase the shores.
- Group stages if needed, but keep the main overflights.
- Prepare successive approaches, because the route chains many fields.
Suggested route
Ohio and Detroit
Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit and Pontiac establish the southern face of the Great Lakes.
KCLE → KTOL → KDTW → KPTK
Central and western Michigan
Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, Muskegon, Grand Rapids and Lansing densify the Michigan network.
KPTK → KFNT → KMBS → KMKG → KGRR → KLAN
South Michigan, Indiana and Chicago
Ann Arbor, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Fort Wayne, Mishawaka, South Bend and Chicago close the loop.
KLAN → KARB → KJXN → KBTL → KAZO → KFWA → KSBN → KORD
Experience tips
Do not fly too high: lakes, towns and shores are the real references.
This route is almost a collection of approaches. A gentle and slow aircraft makes it very pleasant.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2013