Backcountry Pilot • Central Illinois: Updated with PIREP on KEZI

Central Illinois: Updated with PIREP on KEZI

Not necessarily information about airstrips or airports, but more general info about a greater area or a route of flight.
8 postsPage 1 of 1

Central Illinois: Updated with PIREP on KEZI

Flying from Denver to Central PA soon. Central IL is a halfway point that we are looking to spend a night coming and going. Kewanee KEZI comes up in my Airnav cheap bastard fuel planning but I'm open to suggestions. I need gas, a hotel for me and my family (including my lab Lucy), and a meal. Not real demanding, but I'd welcome some local knowledge of a cool spot if it's out there.

Thanks in advance!
Last edited by AEROPOD on Mon Jun 07, 2021 6:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
AEROPOD offline
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:02 pm
Location: Aurora, CO

Re: Central Illinois

Aeropod,

Look at GBG, Galesburg IL. It has all you need I think.

MW
185Midwest offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 437
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:58 am
Location: Fort Wayne
Aircraft: C-185

Re: Central Illinois

KGBG, Galesburg is an awesome place. The National Stearman fly-in is held there every September. The FBO helps support the event and they do a wonderful job. Hangars, fuel, mechanics and hotels near by. Great overnight stop.

Kurt
G44 offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 2093
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:46 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Central Illinois

Interesting suggestion...

My Grandpa at Galesburg around 1940, civilian instructor for the Army Air Corp. I've been told he was the youngest instructor in the country for a while, but I have no idea how anyone knew that or if it could be verified.

Image

Me in Galesburg around 2009. I was told it's not the same airport, but I thought it was worth recreating. I'm not as cool, but I sure like the connection.

Image
AEROPOD offline
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:02 pm
Location: Aurora, CO

Re: Central Illinois

That's awesome [emoji1360]
Aryana offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 936
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:06 am
Location: SoCal
Aircraft: 1955 Cessna 170

Re: Central Illinois

Looks like you found your stop I'd say.

MW
185Midwest offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 437
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:58 am
Location: Fort Wayne
Aircraft: C-185

Re: Central Illinois

Aeropod,

I live and fly out of Geneseo, IL (3G8) which is about 15 miles from Kewanee and 30 miles from Galesburg. Either is a good stop. Both towns would have places to stay, but I would defer to Galesburg for hotel choices. I just bought fuel at Kewanee within the last week and it was much cheaper than anywhere nearby. Galesburg's fuel is over a buck more per gallon than Kewanee.

You might want to consider Moline if you don't mind a bigger airport. Moline (KMLI) is a Class C airport with cheap gas if you go to the self serve pumps. The FBO there (Elliot's) will cost you a little for an overnight (not sure the amount), but has all the amenities you would need.

I'm not sure about transportation options, might be worth a call to see if they all have crew cars.

There are plenty of good airports around this area. Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions of if you need anything when you get here.

Doug
IL_170A offline
User avatar
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:07 pm
Location: Geneseo
Aircraft: Cessna 170A

Re: Central Illinois

ASKHOLE: Someone who asks for advice, then does whatever they wanted to do to begin with.

I'm an askhole in this case.

We spent a night in Kewanee going East and another coming home.

Diane at the FBO was awesome and stayed 15-30 minutes after closing time to set us up with the courtesy car (minivan so no problem loading up the whole family and the dog). Gas was $3.65/gal going east. On the way home when we taxied in she told us we should fill up tonight because the price was going up in the morning so we topped off immediately.

We stayed at the Americinn which was exactly what we needed and included a free (subpar) breakfast, which my wife loves because she loves a bargain and my kids wake up hungry.

The town was just a cool small town.

Go to Cerno's, great bar with huge beer list and good food. Their building was built by Pabst according to the story on the menu. The only problem was a reservation was required so we couldn't go on the eastbound leg, but we made one from OH on the way home.

Great coffee shop down the street from Cerno's. I'll stop their again if the opportunity presents itself.
AEROPOD offline
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:02 pm
Location: Aurora, CO

DISPLAY OPTIONS

8 postsPage 1 of 1

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

Latest Features

Latest Knowledge Base