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  #1  
Old 03-27-2015, 08:18 AM
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LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
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Location: St. Paul, MN.
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Default Flying to Sanibel



We just got back from our first trip to Sanibel Island and have fallen in love with the place.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to convince my wife -- who's not real big on flying -- to take the 7A there, and even if I had been, not being instrument rated or equipped, I'd probably be asking for trouble. I'm not sure I would have wanted to spend the 5 days worrying about the weather.

Southwest Airlines was not an enjoyable experience. All four flights were delayed or canceled. So by the end of the trip -- as we sat on a tarmac in Milwauke for the umpteenth disruption of the trip -- she revealed to me that maybe taking the 7A on such a trip wasn't such a bad idea.

Yahtzee!!!!

I'd love to go back to Sanibel sometime, but still have to work out the nuts and bolts of flying to the area.

Fort Meyers, I guess, is the obvious choice. I'm unclear what the FBO there charges, of course, but I'm just wondering if any of the locals know of other options in the area -- maybe the undiscovered "treasure" that only the locals might know of, in terms of parking a plane for a few days.

I'm back in Minnesota now. It's 18 degrees. Minnesota stinks.
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  #2  
Old 03-27-2015, 08:31 AM
Raymond Smith Raymond Smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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Default

Bob,
It is a nice area, especially during the cooler winter months.

For Sanibel, your best bet is flying into Page Field. I have not been there since they opened the new GA terminal, but I understand it is very nice.

There is an island north of Sanibel/Captiva, called North Captiva Island (surprise) that has an airstrip I always wanted to visit, but do not know if it is RV friendly. North Captiva is only accessible by boat or air.

Another place your wife might like (because my wife likes the area too) is Pine Island. There are a couple small airstrips on that island and is accessible from Cape Coral, not Ft. Myers.

Don't worry about the weather, if you wait a few minutes it will usually change.
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  #3  
Old 03-27-2015, 11:12 AM
armondo armondo is offline
 
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Posts: 74
Default N captiva great place to land

I flew there and it was great! No auto's, gulf carts, and the best beech in fla. U will love it. Armondo
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  #4  
Old 03-27-2015, 11:48 AM
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LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
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Default

What can you tell me about the facility? On the sectional on Garmin Pro it indicated that it was private (unverified) so I just assumed it was landing pad for some of the rich folks to get to their second mansion. :*)
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  #5  
Old 03-27-2015, 12:03 PM
DaveO DaveO is offline
 
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Location: Greenfield, IN
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Bob,
Punta Gorda is a RV friendly, if you want to fly your own. It is 1/2 hr. drive from there to Fort Myers.

If you do not wish to fly your own; You might consider a flight on Allegant Air. They rent cars too.

However, I do not now where Allegant Air has flights, but I do know they are expanding.

Dave
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  #6  
Old 03-27-2015, 12:07 PM
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Auburntsts Auburntsts is offline
 
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Location: Tampa, FL
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Bob,
My in-laws live in Ft Myers Beach and my vote would be to go to Page (KFMY) if you were staying for more than a day and Sanibel was your destination. I have not been to North Captiva airport so can't really comment on that, but there's no road access to the island itself which is OK if there's nothing else you want to do in the area. There would be the option to take a ferry or water taxi to Pine Island or Captiva and get a car there if you desired to do more. Hence my vote to go to Page and rent a car. Although during peak season (roughly Nov to Apr) the traffic in and around Ft Myers absolutely blows--this coming from a guy who fights Washington DC traffic M-F.
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Last edited by Auburntsts : 03-27-2015 at 12:15 PM.
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  #7  
Old 03-27-2015, 12:53 PM
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dmaib dmaib is offline
 
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Bob,
We've been in and out of Page many times in our RV. We have friends in the area that we visit, and we also went back and forth several times when we were buying our "hole in the water that you pour money into" last year. The FBO is very friendly. Self-serve fuel on the other end of the field is usually some of the least expensive in the area. The FBO is absolutely OK with you buying from the self-serve pump. They have rental cars on site. I can't remember for sure, but don't believe they charged tie down fees because we bought fuel.
I've thought about flying into North Captiva, but have never gotten around to finding out if it is really "private". We did have some friends from MN spend a few days there in a rented house, and he told me the rental agency said we were free to fly in to visit them.
It is a beautiful area, for sure! If you do decide to fly down sometime, please let us know. It is about a 45 minute flight to Page and we would love to see you. I've never seen your airplane in person!
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  #8  
Old 03-27-2015, 02:24 PM
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Bill Boyd Bill Boyd is offline
 
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Location: Landing field "12VA"
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Default Interesting destination

I found this:
http://www.saltyapproach.com/index.p...&id=4&Itemid=7

Now you just have to know somebody who's "in."

-Stormy
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  #9  
Old 03-27-2015, 03:14 PM
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Aerosport1 Aerosport1 is offline
 
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Location: Canal Winchester, Ohio
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Bob

We fly down to Fort Myers all the time from Ohio. Page KFMY is your best bet for Sanibel or Captiva. Sanibel is about a 25 minute drive. I believe the North Captiva (Salty Approach) is semi private as Bill just gave a link too.

Page has good fuel prices for full and self serve. They give 3 free nights of tie down for top off. That makes Full serve if staying 3 days cheaper. Additional evening I think are $12.00. We were just there 2 weeks ago. The Line guys are great.
You can also go to Punta Gorda. Further away but a nice airport. I think you can put the airplane in a hangar if they have room. More security at Punta Gorda for getting back and forth to your airplane because they have commercial flights going in and out.
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  #10  
Old 03-27-2015, 03:46 PM
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LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaib View Post
We did have some friends from MN spend a few days there in a rented house,
The one thing we noticed is you couldn't throw a stick on Sanibel/Captiva without hitting a Minnesotan.

But we liked it anyway.

BTW, I'd like nothing better than to see you and Mary sometime.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaib View Post
I've never seen your airplane in person!
Sure you have.

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RV-12iS Powerplant kit
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Last edited by LettersFromFlyoverCountry : 03-27-2015 at 03:49 PM.
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