Anybody have tips for my planned flying/camping trip to Gulf Shores or
Dauphin Island? Which is the better destination? Can one tie down for
several days at the latter?

Thanks,
Mike

Michael C Finke" > wrote in message
...
> Anybody have tips for my planned flying/camping trip to Gulf Shores or
> Dauphin Island? Which is the better destination? Can one tie down for
> several days at the latter?


Gulf Shores: Great destination! Airport is busy as hell and really out to
have a tower. It's surrounded by restricted areas. The first timer (and
second and prolly third timer) will need to flight plan pretty carefully.
Stay in touch with Eglin AFB approach and all should be well.

The airport is in the middle of everything but I have no idea about close-by
camping. It's also not really walking distance to the beach from the
airport. I'd reckon it's probably two to three miles to the beach.

Dauphin Island: I never got to make it there but have researched it when I
was considering it. You camp right by your plane. The runway juts into the
Mobil Bay and I'm sure would look like a carrier landing. The runway is
supposed to be really nice.

I was told that, after landing, you go to a phone booth, call up the local
Sheriff and they'll give you a lift to wherever you need to go.

Not much to the island. It's really just a sand bar with houses on it and a
few touristy places to visit.

For what it's worth, I think I'd have to choose Dauphin if I were looking
for a easy in/out, on-site flying/camping experience.

Please post a review if you visit Dauphin. It's still on my list of places
to go once I start flying again.

--
Jim Fisher

"Michael C Finke" > wrote in message

> Anybody have tips for my planned flying/camping trip to Gulf Shores or
> Dauphin Island?

Skeeter repellant! Last time I tried to camp at Gulf Shores we made it about
20 yards from the truck before beating a retreat. I cannot understate the
importance of insect repellant if you go in the spring, summer or fall.

Also, bring a flashlight to shine on the water, ponds and swamps at night;
there are alligators at Gulf Shores and their eyes are easily visible in the
light. Mostly harmless, but very fascinating.

If I was flying over Dauphin, I'd cross Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan and look
for the bouy just northwest that marks where the ironclad Tecumseh sunk
during the battle in August of 1864. (Where Farragut said "Damn the
torpedoes, full speed ahead!) Fort Gaines, which is at the eastern tip of
Dauphin Island, was held by Confederates as young as 12 years old until they
surrendered.

Also, the Blue Angels practice offshore. The first time I heard sonic booms
was at Fort Morgan. And, by the way, NAS Pensacola has an -excellent- air
museum!

> Which is the better destination? Can one tie down for several days at
the latter?

Gulf Shores has facilities. Dauphine Island is sort of out in the middle of
nowhere, but the bay is fascinating.

Have a great trip
-c

"Jim Fisher" wrote:
> Gulf Shores: ...
> Stay in touch with Eglin AFB approach and all should be well.

That's Pensacola's airspace.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
>
> "Jim Fisher" wrote:
> > Gulf Shores: ...
> > Stay in touch with Eglin AFB approach and all should be well.
>
> That's Pensacola's airspace.

Right. But I talked to Eglin from about 40 miles north of Gulf Shores all
the way to when I reach the Gulf Shores airspace.

Or am I not remembering correctly?

--
Jim Fisher

>Right. But I talked to Eglin from about 40 miles north of Gulf Shores all
>the way to when I reach the Gulf Shores airspace.
>
>Or am I not remembering correctly?

I no nothing about piloting procedures....

But given where gulf shores is....I imagine you could talk to either Eglin-the
farthest east, Pensacola Naval air station -east but closer, Pensacola Reginal
Airport - east about the same as Naval Air station,or maybe even Mobile
Regional Airport -west but maybe closer than Eglin...

And my WAG is that Mobile would be the closest if your talking Daulphin
Island....

And as previously mentioned .....ALWAY bring lots of effective bug
repellant...the HIGH powered stuff! in addition to long sleeve shirt, long
pants, even hats that you can DRENCH with bug spray...

OH yeah, if you are even remotely an aviation buff the Naval Air Station museum
is a MUST see....second only to the National Air and Space from what Ive been
told...you can definetly spend all day there...and they even have a decent
resteraunt on the spot to take a break for lunch....and if you manage to see
all you want before the end of the day.....there are two really neat forts on
base worth spending and hour or so at each....

I think the museum closes at 4 or 5 pm....so dont expect it stay open late....

take care

Blll

> > > Stay in touch with Eglin AFB approach and all
> > > should be well.

> > That's Pensacola's airspace.
>
> Right. But I talked to Eglin from about 40 miles north of
> Gulf Shores all the way to when I reach the Gulf Shores
> airspace.
>
> Or am I not remembering correctly?

I dunno, hard to see how Eglin could have airspace west of Pensacola.
Due north of Gulf Shores is a patchwork of Pensacola/Houston
Center/Atlanta Center airspace below 10,000. Were you coming around
from the northeast?
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

(BllFs6) wrote in message >...

> OH yeah, if you are even remotely an aviation buff the Naval Air Station museum
> is a MUST see....second only to the National Air and Space from what Ive been
> told...you can definetly spend all day there...and they even have a decent
> resteraunt on the spot to take a break for lunch....and if you manage to see
> all you want before the end of the day.....there are two really neat forts on
> base worth spending and hour or so at each....

I second that. Loved the Naval Air Museum.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.

Opps

Forgot to add this

Using Pensacola Regional Airport as "ground zero".....


Gulf Shores is 24.8 nm WSW

Daulphin Island is 48.1 nm WSW (and dont forget to fly over Fort Morgan nearby)

Pensacola Naval Airstation is 6.6 nm SW

and 82J , Ferguson Field is is 6.9 nm W,

with a 3200? foot paved runway....

Now, according to airnav, Feguson has rental cars....so even if you stay at
Gulf Shores or Dauphin Island.....If you wanted to visit Pen NAS mueseum....you
could fly over to Ferguson and either rent a car or take a taxi.....its only a
few miles from one to the other....and the route is outside the city through
the "back"/west gate of the military base, so you will pretty much avoid bad
traffic

So, camp at one of your two choices....then take a nice scenic flight east
along the coast.....then fly up/north along perdido bay....where at the brigde
for hwy 98 you pass "Broson Field", a monster base that was used for sea plane
training many moons ago and is now a military recreation area.....you can still
see many of the seaplane ramps....then buzz along following hwy 98 a few miles
eastward and that puts you at Furgeson Field.....

Sounds fun! Wish I was going :)

Please confirm all this info and opening/closing times for the base/museum for
yourself of course !

take care

Blll

It sure sounds to me like you were going into Destin.

Mike Weller

On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 22:34:22 -0500, "Jim Fisher"
> wrote:

>"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
>>
>> "Jim Fisher" wrote:
>> > Gulf Shores: ...
>> > Stay in touch with Eglin AFB approach and all should be well.
>>
>> That's Pensacola's airspace.
>
>Right. But I talked to Eglin from about 40 miles north of Gulf Shores all
>the way to when I reach the Gulf Shores airspace.
>
>Or am I not remembering correctly?

Thanks, everyone, for the tips. We're leaning toward Dauphin Island; will
definitely take in the museum and pack mosquito repellent (might not have
thought of that--they're not out yet up here).

Best,
Mike

"Mike Weller" > wrote in message
> It sure sounds to me like you were going into Destin.

You are positively, absolutely correct, Mike.

Gulf Shores, Destin, all Redneck Riviera to me.

--
Jim Fisher