In Between the Clouds

 

Its been a while since I've flown. Three years in fact. This time the journey was from Chicago (ORD) to Cedar Rapids (CID) on the last leg of a journey from Nashville (cats.) The pilot reported it would be a race between weather moving in to CID and his ability to land safely.

 

 

Wheels were down on final approach about a quarter mile from the runway when the captain pulled up and went around. A wall of water hit the plane with lightning all around. After a 10 minute arc around the airport the pilot said he would come in from the opposite direction. A few looks outside and it was easy to see what was happening. Developing rain systems were popping up along with the wind and light show. We did make it down just as the one of the waves hit. Our plane taxied near the ramp and shut down. For the next 90 minutes we sat on the tarmac as storm waves came through. Apparently there are actual FAA regulations about ramp crews servicing planes when lightning is around. Think about it - metal planes and jet fuel - not really safe if you are working the ramp and baggage collection in those conditions.

Superfortress B-29 Fifi Comes to a Stop at Cedar Rapids KCID Airport

 

August 1, 2015 - FIFI the only flying B-29 (at the moment) taxis near a crowd waiting for a chance to see her up close. Paying passengers were treated to a 30 minute ride around Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition to the B-29, a F4U Corsair, P-51 Mustang, a SB2C Hell Diver, a Stearman,and a C-45 Beechcraft were present and offering rides $$$ to $$$$. A living piece of history. The captured video sound does not do justice to the vibrating pulses of four huge radial engines.

Florida Bound From Sunny Iowa

While waiting for the warbirds to takeoff and land at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa airport commercial traffic kept up its busy Sunday schedule. Allegiant Air flies to vacation spots from cities like Cedar Rapids. This time the flight destination was the Sarasota, Florida area.

FIFI B-29 Prepares for Takeoff at KCID Cedar Rapids Iowa

Fifi the B-29 World War II bomber made a four day stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this weekend. These three photos are from this morning during the plane's last full day here. Yesterday the weather was fantastic and many people turned out to see the aircraft and other WWII era fighters.

By going black and white and jacking the contrast I produced this old time looking image of the plane. With some sand and tropical trees this could very well be some runway in the South Pacific during 1945.

Fifi's late morning trip around the Cedar Rapids area ended with another successful landing at KCID. Airport Park area on the east side of the property is an excellent place to see and hear planes of all sorts come and go. Its just not everyday when a historic aircraft like the B-29 comes to town.

FiFi - It Was a Dark and Stormy Night at KCID Cedar Rapids

Once again Fifi, the WWII B-29 is on Cedar Rapids concrete for a few days. She will be joined by other WWII era combat planes and trainers for static display and rides. This shot came at a time of diminishing light and increasing rain. Besides having to photograph through chain link fencing the potential for me to be a lightning rod was very high. Go visit the plane if you are in the area.

Sunset on CID

Another beautiful sunset over the control tower and hangers at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID,KCID) near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

United Express Continues Long Tradition of Air Service to KCID

United Express routinely flies into the Eastern Iowa Airport (KCID) generally from Chicago and Denver hubs. These photos of arriving and departing aircraft are from last week's visit to the airport when a special NASA jet flew in for avionic testing. 

United Express flies Embraer ERJ-145s planes in and out of the major hubs to spoke metro markets like Cedar Rapids.

In the foreground is a waiting area where departing planes stop to receive final permission to get airborne. I'm no expert but believe that departing pilots talk to both the Cedar Rapids tower and regional control in Chicago for the go-ahead to fly.



Arriving aircraft make their way past the tower and eventually to the passenger terminal. In years past United Airlines flew 737s to Cedar Rapids. Now smaller capacity, but higher occupancy aircraft continues the decades long tradition of serving the City of Five Seasons.

Taking Off with Allegiant Air at KCID

Mid-evening is a busy time for the Eastern Iowa Airport (KCID) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A few nights ago the airport was the scene of activity with commercial, government and private aircraft. An Allegiant Airlines jet makes its way eastbound on the taxi runway for a westbound takeoff. Close behind is an arriving United Airlines Express jet taxiing to the terminal.

As the Allegiant aircraft makes two quick right turns near the end of the runway, sunshine floods the plane's silhouette, showing Allegiant's colorful branding scheme.

It's nose up and wheels locked as another Allegiant flight goes direct to a sunny destination with no hub transfer.

Cloud Prison

Last evening at KCID (Cedar Rapids Airport) produced some great aircraft takeoff photos that I will be editing soon. In the southern sky was this cumulus cloud that seemed to be building in size behind the airport's barbed wire fence. In reality it was probably scores of miles away.

Lockheed S-3 Viking Makes a Visit to KCID

A fellow eastern Iowa blogger let me know that a special aircraft flew in today to the Eastern Iowa Airport (KCID) in Cedar Rapids. This is a Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft which is now owned by NASA. Rockwell Collins, a local manufacturer of aerospace avionics is testing equipment on the Viking, as part of a new communications system for unmanned aircraft or drones. Read Gazette article here.