Community-youth, Youth

Flying in Florida

08 Aug 2024
Text by Jarell Lim, SUTD Aviation Interest Group

When you hear about Florida, you’re probably thinking about crocodile infested waters and gator fights, and there’s some truth to that. However, Florida is a very flat state with lots of marshes, swamps, and beaches, which makes it the perfect state to fly as well! Minus the unpredictable summer weather, Florida is great for flying since you’re always taking off and landing near sea level, and you don’t have to worry about flying into any big mountains. That’s why there are many popular flight schools and aviation universities such as Epic Flight Academy and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University established here.

With the beautiful East Coast Beach and the iconic Daytona International Speedway, there’s always something eye catching during flights in Florida. As you head inland, you’ll fly over refineries, solar farms, and many many lakes! It isn’t Florida if you don’t have lakes all around you!

Most pilots would use these landmarks to report their current position or plan their cross-country flights as they’re very easy to spot. However, it’s much more amazing at night with all the city lights.

Night Flight over Daytona. Video: SUTD Aviation Interest Group

Daytona International Speedway and Daytona International Airport at Night. Photo: SUTD Aviation Interest Group

Other than the abundance of student pilots flying around, there are also many helicopter and airplane owners all around Florida. I recall encountering an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) in Spruce Creek, a place where both planes and cars share the same roads. He owned a stunning red Pitts S-2B aerobatic Biplane in his hangar, as well as an R44 Raven II helicopter!

Some other fascinating sights I’ve had the chance to see in Florida include a 1944 North American AT-6, 1969 Hughes 369HS Rotorcraft and a US Coast Guard Aerospatiale SA-360 Dauphin helicopter. It was an incredible and eye-opening experience!