I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch?

fast89pony

fast89pony

Well-Known Member
I was wonder how long before and after the launch do they close restricted area R-2935. Its sits rights above Space Coast Regional Airport where I plan on flying into. I will call for notams before I go but I'm trying to get an estimate. Anybody ever flew in for a launch?
 
R-2935 is always active.

But it starts at 11,000, so you're probably good.

What you need to worry more about is the 30 mile TFR, which effectively shuts down TIX. That's usually active 8 hours before to half an hour after the scheduled launch time.

Have fun! :nana2:
 
NickH said:
R-2935 is always active.

But it starts at 11,000, so you're probably good.

What you need to worry more about is the 30 mile TFR, which effectively shuts down TIX. That's usually active 8 hours before to half an hour after the scheduled launch time.

Have fun! :nana2:
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Yea thats what i meant. Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll be getting there early.
 
can you see the shuttle launch in the air from the 30 mile tfr? or is it better closer on the ground?

I thought I've heard of guys viewing it from the air?
 
those are really cool photos, but are they 30 nm away? maybe the tfr around the space shuttle has gotten bigger since 2001 when those photos were taken?
 
Flyin_bryan said:
can you see the shuttle launch in the air from the 30 mile tfr? or is it better closer on the ground?

I thought I've heard of guys viewing it from the air?
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Night launches, I could see the glow in the sky from my apartment balcony in ORLANDO. You can see the shuttle's flame trail from Tampa on a clear night. Day launches, you can still see the smoke and fire going up.
 
I saw one night launch from the air before 9/11. Back then you could get as close as 15 miles, basically stay to the west of the inter-coastal. It was an amazing experience, I rented a C-172 with 3 other pilots and took off from Daytona, headed south and timed it so we would turn around right as it launched. THe scary part back then was the other 50 planes in the area trying to watch the launch.
The other cool thing you could do was called a shuttle tour, basically they let you overfly the runway at 500 feet and gave you other vectors when the shuttles were not at the pad.
After 9/11 you couldn't even go south of the Daytona Beach airport, not sure what has happened since 2004, but that was as close as you could get, still since it launched to the north east you could get a great view and the controllers were aweasome at giving you vectors to see the launch. Those pictures on airliners looks like before 9/11, it was def neat to see it take off from below you and watch it go by.
 
Yeah the 30 mile TFR is a pain as it extends all the way down to KMLB. Timing the shuttle launch with being in the air always seemed kinda tough because of the delays and hold times that ALWAYS happen!

Anyway I live about 3 miles from KTIX- if anyone is coming in I would recommend just going to the river- the pad is directly across and you can see the launch beautifully
 
Sometimes Daytona and Orlando's ATC have problems with spectator aircraft on CAVU days. If you do fly over to watch it from the air, make sure you are in contract with ATC, they'll work with you and keep you safe.

One of the launches I went up with a friend in his 172, ATC was really good working with us, unfortunately the weather didn't. So we flew up to St. Aug's and had dinner. Got to log like 0.5 actual :D
 
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