This aircraft is a 2-year-old, less than 300 hours on the airframe C182 with the NAV2 (not G1000) package. A beautiful machine for £85/hr! This aircraft (if available) would cost, easily, twice as much to hire in the UK.
Our initial destination is Vero Beach, Florida. This is situated on the east coast and is home to the Piper aircraft factory and is also a major training airfield.
A straightforward departure to the east of Orlando Exec (1400' again, initially) then continue under 'flight following' with Orlando Approach. Approach ATC is based at Orlando International (McCoy) Airport and covers most of Central Florida.
A very easy transit follows to Vero Beach, 22" manifold pressure, 2300 rpm, mixture leaned, cowl flaps closed and autopilot engaged.
We get handed off to Vero Beach Tower and then the fun starts. Vero Beach is protected by Class D (controlled airspace) so permission is required to enter it. We are told to remain clear until called and this does not come as a surprise as we have been listening in for the last 10 minutes. The circuit (pattern) is busy. It is a busy training airfield and Flight Safety International have a training base here involving dozens of PA28s, Cherokee Arrows and Piper Seminoles.
Clearance, however, comes within about ten minutes and we join left downwind for runway 4. A very orderly flow of aircraft leads us in and a few minutes later we are taxiing for the main apron in front of the Terminal building.
Through the access gate and into an immaculately manicured garden area/viewing area, through the terminal entrance and on your left is the entrance to CJ Cannon's restaurant - destination for lunch.
In the garden area there is a short history of the Vero Beach airfield on a plaque.
As lunch is taken a couple of Vans RVs arrive together, an RV8 and an RV9. The RV9, in particular, catches the eye as it painted in full Northwest Airlines red/grey colourscheme. And very nice it looks too. The registration is N320NW. I wonder what he does for a day job?
Lunch over and it is time to fly on to Merritt Island.
The flight to Merritt Island is a short one - 20 minutes - but there is a lot to think about.
Contact with Orlando Approach is made fairly soon after departure from Vero Beach. I am immediately given traffic information on a Twin Otter aircraft climbing out of Sebastian on a parachutist drop flight. As soon as he is out of the way I am informed about a MD80 airliner shortly getting airborne from Melbourne Airport heading east and once he is out of the way I need to keep a good lookout for a C130 Hercules getting airborne from Patrick AFB. It is a gin clear day so I see all the traffic with ease and all this while speaking to Merritt Island on box 2 to announce my arrival. Still had time to take a picture of Melbourne on the left hand side though.
I switch from Orlando Approach with about five miles to run to Merritt Island.
Merritt Island is peace and tranquility. It is another uncontrolled airport and is a do-it-yourself job. I position myself left downwind for runway 11, turn in over the cruise ship terminal and plop it down on the spotless 3600' runway. A right turn takes me to the FBO and an employee is there to marshall me on to the parking stand and stick some chocks under the wheels. Still no charges - no landing fees, no handling fees - nothing. All I spent while I was there was 99c for a 7UP from the soda machine!
Merritt Island is also the home to these machines - Compair 7s I believe they are called. Not the prettiest thing in the world but they can be bought as a homebuild. Note the Walter turboprop engine on the front.
One hour on the ground then it is a 30 minute flight back to Orlando Executive.
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