Will Maddi Find the Centerline? Demopolis to Meridian in the Cessna 152 | Tombigbee River Dam

We're back in Maddi's Cessna 152 "Eleanor II" (aka the Skymower ) hopping from Demopolis, Alabama (KDYA) back to Key Field in Meridian, Mississippi (KMEI). But first — you know Virgil can't resist a detour when there's a river involved. Just outside Demopolis, the Tombigbee River cuts through the low Alabama hills, and sitting right on it is one of the tallest locks on the entire inland waterway system — the Demopolis Lock & Dam. This isn't just a pretty sight from the air; this lock is part of the chain that connects the Great Lakes all the way to the Gulf. And when we get there? There's a push boat actively locking coal barges downriver — possibly all the way to Mobile. We circle for a good long look. You're welcome. 🚢 After the river detour, we pick up Highway 80 across the low Mississippi hills and finally set for Key Tower's Runway 22 — with a long, satisfying straight-in approach that gives Maddi every chance to get that centerline right. Spoiler: She does. Virgil declares it possibly her best landing yet. The camera agrees. 📸 --- ✈️ IN THIS EPISODE --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🛩️ The airplane: Cessna 152 "Eleanor II" — Maddi's new Skymower 🗺️ Route: KDYA Demopolis, AL → Detour over Tombigbee River → KMEI Key Field, Meridian, MS 💧 Highlight: Demopolis Lock & Dam — one of the tallest locks on the Tom Bigbee Waterway 🚢 Bonus: Live push boat with coal barges locking downriver 🏭 Landmarks: Papermill, Two Rivers Lumber Company, Southern Pipe & Supply, Henderson Steel 🏘️ Waypoints: Highway 80, Sucarnoochee River, Intercourse Alabama (yes, really), Downtown Meridian 🎧 Real ATC: Key Field Tower, Meridian approach traffic, Runway 22 cleared to land --- 👨‍✈️ YOUR CREW --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virgil — Commercial pilot, instrument rated, CFI/CFII candidate, flying since age 15, and apparently a connoisseur of locks and dams Maddi — Navy officer, instrument rated, working toward her commercial certificate, and the proud owner of Eleanor II --- 📌 CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Demopolis to Meridian 00:22 Learning the Centerline 01:50 Departing KDYA Runway 22 03:35 Papermill 06:28 Tombigbee River 08:59 Demopolis Lock & Dam 14:05 Two Rivers Lumber Company 15:41 Highway 80 17:38 Sucarmoochee River 18:36 Intercourse Alabama 19:46 Our Friend Ed 21:52 Finally Getting to Intercourse 27:56 Back into Mississippi 31:47 Key Tower 1st Call 33:56 Southern Pipe & Supply 35:54 Henderson Steel & Avery Products 36:24 Joining the Approach 37:57 Downtown Meridian 40:20 Short Final 22 41:37 Landing Replay --- 🔔 NEVER MISS A FLIGHT --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe and hit the bell so you catch every cross-country, every river detour, and every centerline victory: 👉    / @planeplaces   Want to join the crew and get access to exclusive content? Become a channel member: 👉    / @planeplaces   --- 🌐 FIND US EVERYWHERE --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🌍 Website: planeplaces.com 📘 Facebook: @planeplaces 📸 Instagram: @planeplaces 🎵 TikTok: @planeplaces