Ah Meiegs Field in Chicago. Any of your Flight Simulator fans you will remember it as the default airport. There was quite a bit of controversy surrounding its closure. The Chicago Mayor at the time, Richard Daley, wanted the airport closed and a park made. Although people were trying to fight and keep the airport open, Daley had crews destroy the runway in the middle of the night, stranding the airplanes that were parked there. The aircraft were later able to take off using the taxi way, but it was an end to a special era.
This video takes a look at a Boeing 727 that was flown in to Miegs field to be barged to the Museum of Science and Industry. The issue is, the runway was never made for such a large plane, so the pilot had to be careful in his landing.
Thanks Paul for pointing this video out!
Nice bouncing action on the landing
Yea I think he was going pretty darn slow upon touchdown and quite a bit of cross wind to boot!
David
I think that 727 ran out of lift at the end. That plane just dropped those last few feet.
I love the 727’s new home though. That’s a fantastic exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry.
I just found this clip after telling someone to see the exhibit. I lived in Hyde Park when this happened and I was walking up 55th street and saw this 727 coming in so low. We thought it was a United flight ditching in Lake Michigan for an emergency!