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Milwaukee Gen. Mitchell Int'l Airport map

General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

Overall Rating:

Live Flight Tracking:       Flightaware

This is another decent airport for plane watching and photographing.  The Milwaukee Airport Authority has built a lot on the north side, just off the end of runway 1L/19R, located just 2 miles east of the Layton Ave. exit from I-94.  It has been here for years and is extremely popular with the locals - I have seen the lot nearly full on a nice day.  The only problem is that this runway isn't used as often as the east-west runway (7R/25L) and to see action on that runway  you need to go on the top of the parking garage, but you need a long lens for photos and the cost is something like $2 per hour.

Milwaukee is the home of Midwest Airlines and its regional affiliate Skyway so most of the traffic will be 717s and Regional Jets.  Northwest Airlines has a big presence here as well with DC9s, Airbuses, and 757s.  This airport is also home to the Wisconsin Air National Guard and they are out flying nearly every day in the big KC135s.  In addition, there is a lot of business jet traffic here.

Traffic is fairly constant throughout the day and in the late afternoons it is not uncommon to see three or four planes lined up for departure right in front of you at the observation area.  Definitely a great place for plane lovers and I highly recommend a visit here.   This airport was named in honor of General William "Billy" Mitchell, one of the most famous Generals in the U.S. Army during World War I.  He is often considered the "father" of the modern air force and was a Wisconsin native.  Also, the B-25 bomber was named after him, and there is a B-25 on display at the entrance to this airport.

Click here to see a photos from the Observation Area

Click here to see photos from the parking garage

 

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© 2005 Bruce Leibowitz