US Military Airbases in Orlando/Miami?

[Weasel]

Hi all

 

Next week I enjoying my holidays in Orlando and also some days in Miami. As a big fan of the US-Fighters it would be great to make some photos and watching some starts/landings. Is there a airbase of the USAF/USMC/USN close to Kissimmee/Orlando or Miami?

Edited February 25, 2012 by Weasel

[Vekkinho]

Knock yourself out:

 

http://militarybases.com/florida/

[BlueRidgeDx]

You can combine beach fun and planespotting if you head out to Patrick AFB. You can sit on the beach on the extended runway centerline about a quarter mile from the threshold. It's not always a busy place, but the beach is fairly nice.

 

Just head east from MCO on "The Beachline" expressway. Forty-five minutes later, you'll be in Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach. Just take A1A south from there, and you'll see the base and the beach. If you haven't been there before, you should stop at the Ron Jon surf shop in Cocoa Beach - you'll pass it on A1A.

 

If you decide to head that direction, there's also a park called Canaveral National Seashore. You get there from Titusville via the Max Brewer causeway. You pay about 5 bucks (per car), and then enjoy a "scenic" drive across the marsh lands adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center. Watch out for Alligators crossing the road...seriously. Anyway, it's probably only a 6-7 mile drive, but it feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. Don't worry, though, you'll drive right past the threshold of the Shuttle Landing Facility, and you can see Shuttle Launchpad from up close. I don't know what it looks like now that the shuttles are gone, though. Anyway, at the end of the trek, there's a nice beach at which to frolick for the afternoon.

 

If you want to head the other direction, take I-4 west from Orlando to the St.Petersburg/Clearwater area. The water there is beautiful, and the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico are much nicer than the Atlantic beaches due to the powder sand and lower surf. Its great for letting the kids venture into the water without worrying about 6 foot breakers. I recommend Indian Rocks beach, but any place will do.

 

Anyway, MacDill AFB is there, but there's not much going on - it's a tanker base. And because of it's location, there's no real way to do much spotting.

 

Edit: I forgot to mention that there's a little park right at the Orlando airport with a B-52D on static display. MCO got its ICAO code because it used to be McCoy AFB. If you're flying into Sanford (SFB), it might not be worth the traffic and the tolls to get to MCO to see it.

Edited February 25, 2012 by BlueRidgeDx

[Weasel]

Thanks a lot for your replies.

 

@BlueRidgeDx

 

Your suggestions are great! As we rent a car we are able to see a lot of places. I like the "adventure trip" (Canaveral National Seashore). I hope that my friends agree to visit this park and I really hope that we find the time for a trip to the Patrick AFB!

 

It's the first time I will be in Florida and also in the USA.

 

Why do you say we should stop at the Ron Jon surf shop? It's a surf shop not a plane or military shop ;)

[BlueRidgeDx]

Ron Jon is just a touristy thing that you "have" to do at least once. Buy a T-shirt, look around for a bit, and scam on some surfer chicks, then be on your way.

 

The Canaveral Seashore isn't much of a park. It's really just a large expanse of swamp and marshland filled with alligators. In fact, at some point during your drive, you're likely to say out loud, "This doesn't look right". But if you're a true aviation nerd, you'll want to be able to say that you saw the Shuttle runway and the launch pads. The part about the beach is only useful for convincing "normal" people to make the trek with you.