I was cruising the tubes recently, looking at some info and theories about the Air France flight 447 tragedy, when a I came across a good article about how the weather may have been involved in the accident. I started looking around the rest of the author’s web site and found we had a some parallels in our career paths, including spending some time at Chanute Air Force Base. So I ended up researching and reminiscing about Chanute. I was stationed there in 1985/86 and have lots of good, faded memories from what seems like a lifetime ago. It was at Chanute that I learned how to observe and forecast the weather. Yes, I use to be a “weatherman”. Anyway, I was floored when I saw some recent pictures of the base. I knew in closed in the 1990’s, but always assumed the base and it’s assets were put to good use. Not! Some areas look like they were abandon a hundred years ago! Suddenly I feel even older. Check out these pictures, and these. Yikes!
I plan to stop at the former base once the plane is flying to check things out first-hand. The flash backs should be interesting!
Bowen Aero 