Florida flying..

[Orangewing]

Hi guys. Heading out to Naples any time now to hire a cessna / piper to take away for a few days sightseeing etc. Can anyone recommend decent places to go, especially for overnights and all that?
I have key west on the itinerary, but what about the bahamas - any suggestions on what is worth seeing, or anyone know any unusual airfields worth a visit?

I was going to stick this on the private forum, but then I saw a thread about beagle bassets (?) and thought I might have more luck with you hour builders etc.!!

Any tips gratefully received, fly safe!

:ok:

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Orange,

You will have a great time, been there a few times myself, and it is definately fun flying. I havent been to the bahamas, but can suggest a few places.

Key West, as you have already mentioned. It is quite expensive down there, but the flight is well worth it, the views are fantasic.

LakeLand, nice airport and a really good restaurant which overlooks the apron.

Everglades City, nothing there, but trying to land a plane on what appears to be a fag packet definately sharpens up your approaches and landings.

Venice, apparently there is a great restaurant there called Sharkies, I have never actually been in Sharkies, however, I have heard some good reports.

St Augustine, again nice airport, with a graveyard of beaten up aeroplanes, I am not sure if they are still there? I havent been there for a few years.

Orlando International, purely for the experience of landing in an airport the size of Heathrow, and landing on a runway that you could probably land across, give Orlando approach a call and see if you can get a touch and go in. I did hear rumours that they are now charging you to land, however that was in Miami, not sure about Orlando.

Daytona International, on the approach you get a great view of the speed way. If you want to you can get a cab to the speed way, they offer tours which are quite interesting if you like motor racing. Its great when they are practicing, those bloody cars really do shift!

Spruce Creek, this is a private airport, however I think, I am not sure, you can visit the airport if you are going to the restuarant. This is one of the airfields in Florida where people live and have hangars on the rear of their houses, with a set of taxi ways leading to the runway. Its quite impressive to see.

Melbourne, great pilot lounge!

Also, flying up the east coast, if the visibility is good enough, you get a good view of the space centre and the shuttle landing facility. You used to be a able to get a special clearance to fly down the runway at 500ft however, I think they have stopped this after the world trade centre terrorist attacks.

Well, there are just a few there, the list will go on! If you get a 1:500,000 sectional for Jacksonville and Miami, you will see the hundreds of airports that are on offer.

Have a great time.

[yorky drifter]

Hi,
I agree with all of cat3c's ideas,i was based in venice so no sharky's well it is very good,but if u fancy a bit of night flying get up there after 6pm (it's only about 30-40 mins from naples) and try the 44th air sq.Fantastic food and good svc and it is actually at the airport.For experience tampa is good fun but they sometimes have trouble slotting u in during the day.For the "everglades fag packet" experience also see pahokee.Nothing really there but very narrow runway which is a challenge with x-winds blowing straight off lake okechobee,and it has a vor. Key west is fun (as long as u remember to look for the weather balloon) to the east.Beware if u are planning on going by yourself,taxis from the airport to the town cost a fortune,and make sure u don't land at the nearby navy air station!

YD

[2close]

Cedar Key just off the west coast, about 100 nm or so north of Tampa on the Gulf of Mexico, is well worth a visit.

2355' x 100' runway, no taxiway or fuel and a hard standing near the 05 threshold for parking; call up on the Unicom frequency 122.9, give Judy Mason (local taxi operator monitoring CTAF) a shout and your taxi will come and collect you from the 'airport' and run you to downtown Cedar Key where, incidentally, I ate the best fresh fish lunch I have ever eaten in my life. There are some interesting shops as well.

You may also be lucky enough to see various marine life on the way up - but there is a Wildlife Zone and a Nuclear Power Plant en route (just hope that Sector 7G has somebody reliable on shift).

USA AOPA Pilot has run an article on Cedar Key in September's issue, which you can read at:

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2004/post0409.html

Watch out for the crosswinds at Key West - buildings and trees to the north of the 27 threshold can cause wicked windshear (as I found out, despite having been warned!!).

And of course, don't forget to make the most of the freebie Instrument Approaches - Plates cost about $4.25 for the whole of Florida.

Have fun.

2close

[el dorado]

orangewing,

The Florida stuff has already been said. I did Bahamas for hour building in 1997, things probably haven't changed too much.

You can file VFR flight to Freeport as port of entry, do some paperwork and carry on. You need to get a stamp from the airport authorities whenever you land anywhere so that they can keep a track of you (due smuggling I guess). Other than that no problem really, just enjoy. Rules basically same as FAA/US. To get back into US you must file DVFR (Defence VFR) to a port of entry, plenty about.

Be aware that not all airports have 100LL, some only cater to bizjets/TP so only have Jet-A and some nothing at all. Don't go to the limits thinking you can make it to the furthest islnd only to discover that you don't have enough to get back to a field with fuel. Your rental company won't be thanking you and you'll end up paying to get fuel out there.

Also not all navaids marked as exisiting do in fact exist. Many are/were damaged by Hurricanes and take years to get fixed. Buy a Caribbean guide with Bahamas, you will find most of the relevant info. such as Rwy length, opening times, fuel/no fuel etc.

Definitely worthwhile if you plan properly. You must have liferaft/jackets on board for yourself and potential passengers. Can all be hired from your FBO. When I was there (Nassau) I needed some extra jackets, I think the person who provided these "borrowed" them from a long-term parking private jet and sold them for 10$ a piece. In date too!

[Ninety-Nines]

All the above are great recommendations -

There is another field just SW of Tampa Intl call Albert Whitted. Is is a great field that if you get to land on the n/s runway there is water all around the airport apart from on the western side - great for experience - nothing like water at each end of your runway! Don't worry though, it is certainly long enough:D

[Governormalfunction]

OW, I was flying there in 2000, try Orlando Country Park if it's still there.......that should concentrate the mind. You can also fly along the MASSIVE runway at space centre Nr Titusville!

[BeeBee]

Hi Orangewing,

I'm also holidaying there, I'll be there first week of November. Called Naples today to book my checkout. Was going to post something similar to you, but you beat me to it :-)

When are you planning on going?

BB

[Orangewing]

Thanks a bunch for all the info, guys - its very much appreciated!
I will print this off, and work my way through it. Might give Orlando (MCO) a miss though, I spend enough time flying into busy international airports as it is :)
I quite like the idea of being stuck in the Bahamas waiting for fuel to be delivered though...!
BeeBee, I should be there in the next week, for about a week or so.

This is all assuming, of course, that there is still something left of Florida after four hurricanes in as many weeks! :E :E

[jayteeto]

Please don't try and fly down the massive space centre runway. The military get so upset these days!! Last year my ATC brief from Daytona was to go to a 'special' non published frequency. I was asked 'can you see the Interstate 75?'.... 'Yes'...... 'Stay to the west of it or risk being shot down' !!!!!!! Titusville was a nice field with an excellent diner that you park outside. Flagler airfield has an excellent eating establishment, unfortunately called 'hijackers'. (pre 9/11)

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Orange Wing,

****! Didn't realise that you were a B737 pilot, if I had I would have not suggested MCO! Should have read your profile first.

Have fun!

[2close]

Ditto!

Boy, do I feel a jerk....crosswinds...Approaches...err....:O

BTW, Albert Whitted mentioned above was apparently the birth place of scheduled flight and the Salvador Dali Museum (if you're into that sort of art) is a short taxi ride away.

[spitfire747]

Cedar Key

2355' x 100' runway, no taxiway or fuel and a hard standing near the 05 threshold for parking

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/michael.thompson23/naples-1.JPG

[Ninety-Nines]

Great shot - can I venture a guess at 971?

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

N971AC, it still flies after Spit has had is hands on it Nicky?:D

[spitfire747]

971 - Affirm :ok:

[Charlie Zulu]

I'll let you all know that Spitty has flown all of the aircraft on Cardiff's fleet and they have been useable afterwards...

....however he is an instructor and thus his students have probably been landing the plane.

:O

[spitfire747]

....however he is an instructor and thus his students have probably been landing the plane.

makes sense to me.. I teach them well.. they do it well... :ok:

ouch...!! all this back stabbing.. very hurtful :{

[newflyer]

If anyone is planning on touring Florida I would strongly recommend calling ahead to the FBO's to ensure that they are fully operational after hurricane 'Jeanne'. I am based at Titusville and the cafe here is currently closed due to a missing roof! Many airfields are still without power even now!

[carbonfibre]

Already mentioned,

Sharkys on the pier at Venice well worth a stop, Marco island, the keys, ceder key great but dont forget your perf calc's on that one depending on your aircraft.

Naples just to say youv'e been to such a pretty airport, and if you dare Miami international quite fun if your in the mood

Happy flying

Carbon:ok: