Plan a flight · Sun 9:14 pm CDT (02:14 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Wilmington Air Park Airport RFD → ILN

293 nautical miles (337 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 123°, about 126° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:56 pm EDT (03:56 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; ILN is IFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 273 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words

Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of

AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 20 nm of the route.

A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from RFD.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A320 at 34,000 ft, 49 nm northeast, 9:03 pm CDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 224 nm along the route, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
Time
02:03 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
moderate chop
A321 at 32,000 ft, 24 nm southwest, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the departure end, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence
B39M at 35,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 78 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 48 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 78 nm along the route, 48 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
A321 at 21,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 254 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
E545 at 28,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence. 254 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 2315/FL280/TP E545/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
E545
Turbulence
none
CRJ9 descending, 12 nm north, 8:15 pm CDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 263 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T031 B005
B744 climbing, 37 nm southwest, 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 263 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 north cvg
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B744
Sky
B022 overcast T036
Turbulence
lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
E145 climbing, 12 nm north, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 263 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over DAY
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B005 T035
B737 at 23,000 ft, 45 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 273 nm along the route, 45 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B739 climbing, 48 nm southwest, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. 273 nm along the route, 48 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
5 west cvg
Time
23:31 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
B026 overcast T036

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 3 forecast points nearest it (JOT, FWA, CVG). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	300° at 7 kt	−7 kt		127 kt	2 h 18 min	12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 14 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	2 h 12 min	12:26 am EDT (04:26 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 17 kt	−16 kt	12 °C	136 kt	2 h 09 min	12:23 am EDT (04:23 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 20 kt	−17 kt	8 °C	137 kt	2 h 08 min	12:22 am EDT (04:22 UTC)
11,500 ft	340° at 22 kt	−18 kt	5 °C	138 kt	2 h 07 min	12:21 am EDT (04:21 UTC)
13,500 ft	340° at 23 kt	−19 kt	0 °C	139 kt	2 h 06 min	12:20 am EDT (04:20 UTC)
15,500 ft	340° at 22 kt	−19 kt	-4 °C	139 kt	2 h 06 min	12:20 am EDT (04:20 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−20 kt	-8 °C	140 kt	2 h 06 min	12:20 am EDT (04:20 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 22 kt	−20 kt	-9 °C	140 kt	2 h 06 min	12:20 am EDT (04:20 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	340° at 35 kt	−30 kt	-21 °C	150 kt	1 h 57 min	12:11 am EDT (04:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 44 kt	−41 kt	-37 °C	161 kt	1 h 49 min	12:03 am EDT (04:03 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 46 kt	−44 kt	-44 °C	164 kt	1 h 47 min	12:01 am EDT (04:01 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 55 kt	−53 kt	-48 °C	173 kt	1 h 42 min	11:56 pm EDT (03:56 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.

The forecast points as issued

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
JOT	used from 0 nm out; 34 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
FWA	used from 146 nm out; 41 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
CVG	used from 244 nm out; 43 nm from the line	350/13	340/20 13°	340/22 8°	350/30 3°	340/30 -9°	340/38 -21°	330/37 -35°	320/38 -40°	310/35 -47°

The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	39 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	01:52 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	59 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	01:50 UTC
VPZ Valparaiso, IN	107 nm out, 15 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	770 ft	01:56 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	166 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	01:55 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN	205 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Weather: mist	calm	6 mi	none	937 ft	01:53 UTC
RID Richmond, IN	244 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	1,139 ft	23:35 UTC
DAY Dayton, OH	263 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots	8 mi	1,200 ft	1,009 ft	01:56 UTC
ILN Wilmington, OH	destination	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots	5 mi	500 ft	1,076 ft	9:54 pm EDT (01:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,139 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ILN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:56 pm EDT (03:56 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR

The whole forecast for ILN

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 400 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for RFD, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at ILN 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ILN is before sunrise there (7:41 am EDT (11:41 UTC)).

Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.

Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Chicago/Rockford International, Wilmington Air Park Airport.