Flying the Keys in a Beaver

by Bill Odell

Sr. Capt BGAS004

 

Some of you have followed me through my various flights that I have submitted: “ Round the World in a DC-3", “Flying the Northern Route”, “New York to Buenos Aires in a DC3", “The Berlin Airlift” and “Flying to Alaska in a Beaver”.  This will be slightly different in that we will be flying in a Float Plane (wheels if you prefer) following the coast line, landing in waters near small airstrips.  We will, as we did in the Alaska flight, fly at a low level and view the scenery.  We will start and end from two locations not in FS 2K.

 

Before you begin download the floatbase scenery from the Southern Div Hangar and follow the instructions in the read1st.txt file to install it.

 

We will be starting from a location a few hundred feet from my former home in Cape Coral, Florida on the Caloosahatchee River.  For those not aware of where Cape Coral is, it is across the river from Ft Myers.

 

Use  the World…goto airport…FS95 scenery and click on “Bill Odell Float Base” to position your plane at the Bluegrass float dock at Cape Coral FL.

 

“Bill Odell Float Base” was named in honor of Bill passing the 1000 hour mark on the roster.

 

Now if any of you would rather fly  the wheel version, you can locate yourself on Page Field (KFMY) runway 5,  there will be airstrips all the way for you to land.  Set the flaps for takeoff and here we go.  After takeoff turn right to 265 deg., climb to 1500' (I suggest you turn on the AP altitude only) continue on course of 265 deg until you see Ft Myers Beach on your left, start a gentle left turn and align yourself with the coast line, and continue on a southerly direction.  At Cypress VOR CYY 108.6 we will turn to radial 151 passing over Naples Airport on our way to Marco Island Airport landing on runway 17.  We will land the float plane on the body of water at the right edge of rwy17.

 

After taking off from Marco we will turn to a heading of 186 degrees as we climb to 1500' on our way to Key West passing over Marco Island.  Tune your VOR to Key West VOR EYW 113.5 radial 186.  This should be an uneventful trip over water.  When we get to 18 miles from EYW the float planes will turn to a heading of 231 degrees.  Those flying the wheel version will proceed to Key West and wait for us and humiliate themselves with Margaritas at Margaritaville. The float planes will start their descent to the Tortugas when they are 3 miles away and head for the Bluegrass Float Plane Dock which is on the side of the Island that runs North/South and taxi to the beach.

 

After we finish our lunch (which you better bring with you as there are no lunch facilities on the Island, also remember what you bring in you take out) we will take off for Key West.  This will be a very short flight, a little over 20 miles, the islands that you pass over on the way to Key West are the Marquesas Keys which are a National Wildlife Refuge .  From hereon all of our flights will be very short as we drop in on all of the little strips in the Keys.  We will not be stopping at the Naval Air Base.

 

Set your flaps for takeoff.  Takeoff, turn to a heading of 92 deg. and climb to our flight level of 1500'.  Approaching Key West you will see the airport to your right front.  We are going to land at the first marina that you see front left.  As you get closer you will see the Bluegrass Float Plane pier.  Land and taxi to the pier.

Set your flaps and takeoff again. Turn to a heading of 90 deg and climb to our 1500' .  Look for the highway and follow it, we will follow this highway for the rest of this flight.  I had planned on landing at Sugar Loaf but when you line up for your descent you will find that the water turns to earth.  So due to this we will just fly over Sugar Loaf, the wheel planes may land if they desire.  So we continue on to Summerland Key Cove.  When you find Summerland set yourself up to land on the water to the left of the highway just opposite the airstrip.  Land and taxi to the Bluegrass Float Plane Pier.

 

Our next leg is to Marathon (KMTH).  Take off and turn to 62 deg. Climb out to 1500' again and pickup the highway to Marathon.  That long causeway is really long and a major source of problems when an accident occurs on it, it is only two lanes wide with no shoulder to pull off on and no turn around.  Medical evac is a serious problem.  There is Marathon ahead, we will be landing in the cove on the left side of the road near the end of the runway.  Make a gentle left turn to help you set up an approach, land and taxi to the Bluegrass Float Plane Pier.

 

Our next destination is Tavern Aero Park (72X).  What is this a fly-in bar? . Take off and turn to a heading of 20 deg..  Climb out to our altitude of 1500' turning slightly right to find the road.  Follow the road to Tavernaero Park.  The Bluegrass Float pier will be just beyond the strip.

 

Take off and turn to a heading of 84 deg. for our next destination which is Ocean Reef Club.  Climb out to our altitude of 1500' and follow the road.  When getting close to Ocean Reef start watching for a road to the left.  The road bends to the left and in the bend is the road to the left.  Follow that road you will see the airport to the right and beyond that is the Bluegrass Pier.

 

Now we are ready for the last leg, Miami.  We will (Floats) be landing at the Bluegrass Pier in Biscayne Bay, it will be on the left and not difficult to find.  The wheels will land at Miami/Kendall-Tamiami Executive (KTMB) runway 9R.  Take off, turn to a  heading of 20 deg.  After lift off climb to 1500' and follow the road until you reach the beginning of Biscayne Bay.  Follow the left shore line of the bay until you see the Pier.  Set up for your approach, land and taxi to the pier.  You have now flown the Keys.

 

My next venture will be to take us up the east coast of Florida to Fernandino Beach near the Georgia border.  Watch for it, enjoyed your company and the great flight.

 

Bill Odell

Sr. Capt. BGAS004

wradodel@tampabayrr.com  

 

 

 

 

 

                                      Float Plane Sites / Airport - Airstrip Data

    _________________________________________________________________

Site                              Float Plane Sites                                Airport.Strip

Bill’s House                  N 26 32 W 81 57                                Page Field (KFMY)

Cape Coral, Fl Elevation 6'                                           Runway            5/23     6406'

Heading 265 deg                                                          13/31   4912

ILS                  Rwy 5 110.7 51 deg

NDB                341

 

Key West                                                                                 Key West Intl (KEYW)

VOR                113.5

Runway            9/27     4801'

 

Tortuga                        N 24 34.6 W 82 6.0

Elevation 6'

Heading 92 deg

 

Summerland                 N 24 39.99 W 81 26.45                      Summerland Key Cove (X20)

Elevation 6'                                           Runway            12/30   2394'

Heading 62 deg

 

Marathon                     N 24 43.29 W 81 3.80                        The Florida Keys/Marathon (KMTH)

Elevation 6'                                           Runway            7/25     5008'

Heading   20 deg                                  NDB    260

 

Tavern Aero Park         N 25 0.61 W 80 30.24                        Tavern Aero Park (72X)

Elevation 6'                                           N 24 59.89 W 80 29.82

Heading 84 deg.                                               Elevation 10'

Rwy 8/26 2175'

 

Ocean Reef Club          N 25 18.82 W 80 18.22                      Ocean Reef Club (X09)

Heading 20 deg                                    4/22     4500'              

 

 

At Ocean Reef Club the water dissappears as you touch down.  To counter this, view your landing from the “spot plane” view with the elevation slightly higher.