They are right next to each other. Where Smyrna ends is the beginning of the Murfreesboro city limits. Smyrna is about 30 minutes southeast of downtown Nashville and Murfreesboro is about 45 minutes away. The Metropolitan Nashville area has grown so much in the last decade that there is very little delineation - it all just kind of flows into each other.
As far as significant landmarks go ... that immediate vicinity is mainly rural, with some historic civil war battle sites (Stones River, Battle of Murfreesboro). Although there is a large dam (Percy Priest) located only about 10 to 12 miles from there, "as the crow flies." This would be my biggest concern by far.
As I said, downtown Nashville is only 30 minutes away (driving time - only a few minutes by air). Being the state capital, it is a decent-sized city with a diverse number of businesses, industry and financial institutions. As everyone knows, we are also known as "Music City USA" -- there are literally hundreds of recording studios, publishing companies, record labels, etc. etc.
I will report back later this evening after our local news. Hopefully more details will be forthcoming.
The first local news was just on. They reported that the plane ran out of gas, and that the pilot refused to tell them his flight plan or destination. He did not have his pilot's license with him, and the pilot's log book was not on board either.
They said initial indications are that Darnell is supposed to be on some type of medication that he had failed to take. He is being held on $20,000 bail. I will see what the other stations report at 5pm.
Good remembering about the air base. If I recall correctly, it actually closed military operations there back in the 70s (although I may be wrong about this), but the airport is still used (obviously). I attended air shows there when I was younger.
Smyrna was the second city to receive a letter from the apostle John in the book of Revelation ... in Turkey today, the site of ancient Smyrna has been little excavated .
http://www.bibleplaces.com/smyrna.htm
http://www.ourfatherlutheran.net/biblehomelands/sevenchurches/smyrna/smyrna.htm
http://www.ctsp.co.il/LBS%20pages/LBS_smyrna.htm
8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; The Destination- "And unto the church in Smyrna write" Who is this letter to? - ... of the church, which is the pastor of Smyrna.
http://www.momentin.com/revstudy/chap02smyrna.html
http://www.smyrna.k12.de.us/
Georgia
Tenn
Fla
The original Early Bronze Age to Archaic period settlement was at Bayrakli, on the NE side of the Gulf of Izmir. Excavations at this site have found, in addition to the remains of an early temple of Athena, the rare remains of houses and city fortification walls dating to the 9th through 7th centuries B.C.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/siteindex?lookup=Smyrna