Labor Day weekend Key West trip

[tlewis95]

My friend needed his 15 ME PIC for his MEI and MEI training, so he had the wonderful idea of doing both while on a 20 hour XC to Key West and back over Labor Day weekend. No complaints here!

On top over Georgia somewhere

Nice view of Daytona Intl Speedway after a gas/lunch stop at DAB

Shuttle Landing Facility/NASA Assembly Building. I really wanted to do a touch and go or flyby but the tower was closed and those would have probably gotten us some un-needed attention

Another trip in the books for these two of course

We basically covered the entire coast of Florida at or below 800' AGL once we intercepted the beach after Cape Canaveral. It was warm, but the view was worth it!

Miami Beach and a typical FL storm that we beat into OPF by about 20 seconds

Miami and MIA behind downtown

Miami made for a fun overnight

Miami the next morning

Following A1A down the Keys

Did some training at MTH on the way down to EYW

Right downwind for 9 at EYW

Loading up/watching airplanes from the west ramp of EYW

We flew right over Diana Nyad on her swim to Key West from Cuba. She was only a few hundred feet off the beach here and surrounded by news and medical boats.

Following A1A back east

Amazing how shallow the water is still a mile off shore northwest of Tampa somewhere

Flying by Cedar Key. We wanted to stop but weren't really feeling it with the weight we were at

 

[tlewis95]

Another Florida rain wall

Staying cool at 10,000' on our 505nm, 4hr marathon leg home from TLH

Sunset over Alabama

A random picture from the training flight we did the next evening.

Enjoy!

 

[durind]

Looks like it was a lot of fun!

 

[CFIT99]

very nice...cedar key would have been badass...nice pics!

 

[DPApilot]

My old stomping grounds. Did you ever go to El Siboney?

 

[tlewis95]

My old stomping grounds. Did you ever go to El Siboney?

Nahh, wanted to get in the air and home because everyone had to be up early the next day so we ended up grabbing dinner in TLH . Thx for the suggestion though

 

[Cal Goat]

Cool pics as usual. In my younger days, I'd have flown along the beach below 1000', but being that low near the ocean now scares me with the heavy bird activity. I'd still love to get Key West in my log book.

 

[CFI A&P]

Next time you're flying near the Cape, you can request a low pass from the tower. They won't let you do a touch and go, usually say something like "Cleared low approach, wheels CAN NOT touch the runway."

I think @Fencer has some photos of that here. If I ever get a chance, I have some footage from a GoPro from the last time I did it.

 

[///AMG]

My old stomping grounds. Did you ever go to El Siboney?

Oh man, I'd love some of their pollo asada and plantains right now.

Cool pictures, the flying down there is always incredible

 

[TurdBird]

Thanks for the heads up that you were coming down here ya jackass!

 

[DPApilot]

Thanks for the heads up that you were coming down here ya jackass!

A year and a half in Florida and we never met up. You're an ass.

Actually, it's probably best we never did. I don't need an arrest record....

 

[Crockrocket94]

DPA I can help you with that.And yeah, looks familiar TLewis!. Nice pics!