Over the course of a few years I’ve been to Kansas 4 times, three of which I traveled extensively throughout the region. Each trip had its own theme to it, which I will elaborate on this entry.

Trip #1 was in 2009. This was me getting to know Kansas. Very rarely do I travel west of the Mississippi and this was my first time to the plain states. And when I mean “plain” I mean flat. Flat as a pancake. I found Kansas to be an area of vastness once you got west of Olathe or Topeka. I am intrigued about how residents of these small remote towns, like Garfield, Kansas, get supplies, groceries, and basic human needs. Do they stock up on food after traveling for 2 or 3 hours to the next supermarket? Do they order the rest via the Sears catalog or the internet?
And it seemed that each medium sized town or county seat had its own claim to fame. This was a plea for the tourist dollars for those passing through the area. For example Greensburg, Kansas, has the world’s largest hand dug well. Meanwhile Cottonwood Falls has one of the oldest continual use courthouses west of the Mississippi.

Trip #2 was in 2012. This trip will best be remembered by my trip to Picher, Oklahoma. Picher had been closed by the EPA due to the mines in the area causing birth defects and learning disabilities among the town’s children. It was amazing to see a completely empty town and imagine what life must have been like just a few years before. Imagine a whole way of life being taken away.

Trip #3 was just last week. My friend had recently gotten his pilot’s license and it was time to put that to good use. My surprise came when I found that planes that small are still just as steady and smooth as those big jet airliners. Plus seeing towns from the air brought things into perspective. I saw plenty of Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska during the flights.
I wonder about the future of general aviation in this country. With much of our governments going bankrupt, general aviation airports might be the first to go. General aviation airports are in a Catch-22 in that they can’t get too busy or nearby residents will complain; and they need to stay somewhat busy or they might be closed down.
I wonder about those small town airport workers. When we landed at some of the airports I was under the impression that we might have been the first visitors all day or all week even. I wonder about how monotonous the days of the airport workers are. I wonder if they can make a living doing tasks for the low number of planes using the airport.
Kansas is an enigma to me. So many towns in Tennessee are so close to each other. If you can’t find something in your own hometown, just drive 30 minutes and you’re in another town. In Kansas it’s not so simple. Kansas is so vast and large compared to Tennessee. I look forward to many more opportunities to explore Kansas from the air and ground.