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DTW → DAY
Which side of the plane to sit from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Detroit) to James M Cox Dayton International Airport (Dayton)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers superior views of the Lake Erie shoreline, the Detroit River, and the transition from the industrial Great Lakes region into the Ohio river valley.
Detroit River
Aerial view of the international border between Detroit, USA and Windsor, Canada shortly after takeoff.
Lake Erie Shoreline
The western basin of Lake Erie, showing the interaction between the Great Lakes and the Ohio mainland.
Downtown Toledo
Clear views of the Maumee River mouth and the skyline of Toledo, Ohio during the descent phase.
Cedar Point Peninsula
On very clear days, the roller coasters of Sandusky are visible in the far distance to the east.
Wright-Patterson AFB
The massive runways and facilities of the historic Air Force base are often visible as you approach Dayton.
Sit on the left for morning flights to enjoy the sunrise reflecting off Lake Erie. The flight is extremely short (under 40 minutes in the air), so watch for the Detroit River immediately after departure. During the winter, the frozen edges of Lake Erie provide a unique geometric landscape.
Ohio Farmland
An endless patchwork of corn and soybean fields typical of the American Midwest.
Ann Arbor Vicinity
A distant look at the sprawl of the University of Michigan area to the west of the flight path.
Grand Lake St. Marys
One of Ohio's largest inland lakes, visible as a blue gem amidst the flat agricultural plains.
I-75 Corridor
The major north-south artery connecting Detroit and Dayton is visible throughout most of the flight.
The right side is ideal for evening flights to catch the sunset over the western Ohio plains. Expect a view dominated by the 'Jeffersonian Grid' of agricultural roads and fields. This side often provides a clearer view of the final approach into DAY if the wind is from the south.
Distance: 267 km (166 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 27 min
Departure: DTW (42.212398529052734, -83.35340118408203)
Arrival: DAY (39.90240097045898, -84.21939849853516)
Route Type: Domestic
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