On August 30, 2008 Chad Jennings gave long-time aviation booster and former pilot Jerry Coleman a ride in the family Cessna 172 and generously allowed earnest webmeister to ride along with his camera..

Looking east, slightly north, the Springfield High School athletic field is visible in the lower right. The stark difference between the profusion of green in the residential area and "the city" is astounding, aye?

Looking northeast.

Visible close to the bottom center is Interstate 55 passing along the southern edge of Springfield, heading east toward the electical power plant and veering northeast.

An island just off Springfield Marina shows water made green by algae which thrive in this part of the lake.

Vachel Lindsay Bridge was dedicated, along with
Lake Springfield, in 1934,

The west dnd of the Lindsay Bridge
terminates in a residential area.

The east end leads to the Lake Springfield Beach House
(closed in 2008) on the left and the public
boat launching facility on the right.

The campus of University of Illinois at Springfield (formerly Sangamon State University) is a major feature of
the landscape near the lake.

A view of the southwest quadrant of beautiful downtown Springfield as we return to the airport.

As the airplane slowed to turn off the active runway, I snapped this view of the CAF B-17 at the 1st Class FBO ramp.

Smiling pilot Chad Jennings smiles for for a picture
following a most enjoyable flight. Thanks again, Chad!

One way to fly was demonstrated by this talented skateboarder
at Century Park on Springfield's southwest side in 2006. Many modern
springfieldians prefer the more traditional equipment introduced by the
Wright Bros. in 1903. .

In the pattern over SPI, the end of runway 31( right) is marked with an X indicating it was closed while repair work was in progress midfield. The area to the right of runway 4 is a hot check area for military jets departing SPI to the northeast.

Richardson Manufacturing on the west side of Springfield, was at one end of a large field. At the other end was the home of my best friend in 10th grade. Jim Richardson (oldest son of Bill and Roberta, plant founders), Gary Baldwin, Mike McEvoy, Phil Arndt & I flew control line and free flight from that field when the city part officials chased us out of nearby Washington Park. Those  were the happiest days of my life until we discovered girls.
Come to think of it, those days were the happiest days of my life.

Looking southwest, Schnuck's super market is just west of Chatham Rd. It and a shopping mall just north occupy turf that was one of the last meadowed areas outside a park in Springfield. So who ever accused our city council of inflicting conservation when it's so obvious that trees don't vote or pay taxes?

This new marina was constructed at Lake Springfield in 2001, just off Interstate 55 south of the city. Judging from the cars in the parking lot, business must be good!

The Illinois State Capitol looking east, slightly south. The H-shaped building just this side of it is the Stratton Office Building, or S O etc. for short. An urban redesign team recommended that the building be raized to facilitate a more impressive view when driving east on Capitol Avenue from the west. I agree with their opinion, but I recommend, as a courtesy to the hundreds of people who work there, that they be given 20 minutes advance notice first. 

Looking southeast, the large body of water in the distance is Lake Springfield, a small body of water used exclusively for water supply, single family residences and parks until recently when City Council approved condominium development.  Some log heads don't vote; they become aldermen.

Looking north up Veterans Parkway from Monroe/Old Jacksonville Road running from right to left, one of the busiest intersections in Greater Post Vietnam War Prosperity Sphere of the city.

The business area in the middle is Town & Country Shopping Center, the city's first shopping center, built about 1961. The green area   behind it is the athletic field to the left of Ben Franklin Middle School where this photographer attended junior high.

Typical of the industrial sites that once flourished in our fair city, this is the former home of a Pillsbury Mills flour refining plant.

Looking mostly west, slightly north, this is Washington Park. Note the tennis courts in the middle. This is one of several excellent parks in our city.,This one has been  transformed over time by park district directors who removed a refreshment stand and public swimming pool and added a road through the middle of a lagoon which, in better times,  featured a wood foot bridge and "island." Any resemblance between some parts of our parks and the aftermath of a strip mine is purely coincidental, I am told.

Close up of Ben Franklin Middle School behind Town & Country Shopping Center. Bob GIlbert, my best friend in 8th grade, won a contest to name the school's new pop corn popper which provided fine fare during sock hops and b-ball games in the gym. He named it "Kernel Franklin."
Excellent name, don' you think? 

Another view of former Pillsbury Mills.

The race track and grandstand at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on the north side of Springfield. This area is near the approach to runway 31 at SPI. During state fair time, the grandstand stage, center right, is a blaze with lights at night while nationally know entertainers dazzle the grandstand audiences.

FInal approach to runway 22.
Soon after I recruit another free ride from a kindly Cessna or Piper jockey, on a clearer, sunnier day, I will post additional aerial views..