Day 30 - Akron to Pontiac

Tony Cacciarelli • July 14, 2020

Akron, OH (KCAK) to Pontiac, MI (KPTK)

- July 14, 2019

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Looks so small next to these other planes

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Big thanks to the MAPS Air Museum and my friend Ken for the opportunity to talk about my trip and General Avaition at their pancake breakfast

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Always draws a crowd

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Cedar Point, site of many summer road trips

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The approach into Put In Bay

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Willow Run airport

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Coming into Pontiac airport

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A one-of-a-kind seaplane

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Original Instagram Post

Started the day with a pancake breakfast at the MAPS Air Museum in Akron, OH. I had the A5 on the ramp next to a bunch of military aircraft and did a 10 minute talk about my trip and why general aviation is important. Lots of folks came by after to see the A5 and ask questions. After about an hour I packed up and headed out.

My first stop was Put In Bay, a small island near Sandusky, OH. We used to go down to Cedar Point amusement park in the summer, so I flew by that on the way.

Put In Bay is a small strip with some challenging trees on the approach end. Good practice for short field landings! I made a quick stop then got back in the air towards Pontiac, MI.

I initially planned to not get flight following for the trip over to Pontiac, but once I got closer to Detroit and saw all the traffic I changed my mind pretty quickly. On the way I flew over Willow Run, the site where the B-24 Liberator was built during WWII. Having just been at the MAPS museum with lots of WWII aircraft, it was a fitting connection.

Once I landed, I got the plane all tucked away and met a few friends from high school. Hard to believe it's been so many years since I've seen some of these guys.

Tomorrow I'm going out exploring and see if I can remember my way around this place.

😀👍🏼

I kept debating with myself on whether to land at Put In Bay or not. The wave height made the water landing decision for me, but I didn't want to just let this small airport slip by, so I skimmed over the trees and dropped it on the runway.

It was another practically unattended airport with a small building that had a vending machine and some chairs. Good to get out of the sun for a few minutes and check out the historical pictures on the walls.

Even though there's not much to it, I still enjoy hanging out at these little out-of-the-way airports and talking with whoever happens to be there. Today it was a father and son on a day trip.

I didn't stick around too long. I wanted to get over to Pontiac airport before it got too late in the day.

Pontiac airport was where we flew out of when my family lived in the area. We'd sometimes fly to New Jersey to visit relatives or I'd fly with my dad up to Ionia for glider lessons. The airport had changed a lot from what I remembered, but it was still great to be back in a place where I'd spent so much time growing up. I really enjoyed seeing old friends from high school, too. It'd been maybe 25 years since I'd seen some of them. Time sure does fly!