I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch?

fast89pony · May 26th, 2008, 13:28

I was wonder how long before and after the launch do they close restricted area R-2935. Its sits rights above Space Coast Regional Airport where I plan on flying into. I will call for notams before I go but I'm trying to get an estimate. Anybody ever flew in for a launch?

NickH · May 26th, 2008, 13:34

R-2935 is always active.

But it starts at 11,000, so you're probably good.

What you need to worry more about is the 30 mile TFR, which effectively shuts down TIX. That's usually active 8 hours before to half an hour after the scheduled launch time.

Have fun!

fast89pony · May 26th, 2008, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickH

R-2935 is always active.

But it starts at 11,000, so you're probably good.

What you need to worry more about is the 30 mile TFR, which effectively shuts down TIX. That's usually active 8 hours before to half an hour after the scheduled launch time.

Have fun!

Yea thats what i meant. Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll be getting there early.

Flyin_bryan · May 26th, 2008, 19:03

can you see the shuttle launch in the air from the 30 mile tfr? or is it better closer on the ground?

I thought I've heard of guys viewing it from the air?

PGT · May 26th, 2008, 19:52

from the pictures I saw on anerds.net it looks sweet and def. visible

edit:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/NASA/...tle/0148260/L/

and

http://www.airliners.net/photo/NASA/...tle/0148517/L/

Flyin_bryan · May 26th, 2008, 20:04

those are really cool photos, but are they 30 nm away? maybe the tfr around the space shuttle has gotten bigger since 2001 when those photos were taken?

kellwolf · May 27th, 2008, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyin_bryan

can you see the shuttle launch in the air from the 30 mile tfr? or is it better closer on the ground?

I thought I've heard of guys viewing it from the air?

Night launches, I could see the glow in the sky from my apartment balcony in ORLANDO. You can see the shuttle's flame trail from Tampa on a clear night. Day launches, you can still see the smoke and fire going up.

phoenix 23684 · May 27th, 2008, 11:12

I saw one night launch from the air before 9/11. Back then you could get as close as 15 miles, basically stay to the west of the inter-coastal. It was an amazing experience, I rented a C-172 with 3 other pilots and took off from Daytona, headed south and timed it so we would turn around right as it launched. THe scary part back then was the other 50 planes in the area trying to watch the launch.
The other cool thing you could do was called a shuttle tour, basically they let you overfly the runway at 500 feet and gave you other vectors when the shuttles were not at the pad.
After 9/11 you couldn't even go south of the Daytona Beach airport, not sure what has happened since 2004, but that was as close as you could get, still since it launched to the north east you could get a great view and the controllers were aweasome at giving you vectors to see the launch. Those pictures on airliners looks like before 9/11, it was def neat to see it take off from below you and watch it go by.

Sidious · May 27th, 2008, 13:11

Yeah the 30 mile TFR is a pain as it extends all the way down to KMLB. Timing the shuttle launch with being in the air always seemed kinda tough because of the delays and hold times that ALWAYS happen!

Anyway I live about 3 miles from KTIX- if anyone is coming in I would recommend just going to the river- the pad is directly across and you can see the launch beautifully

HOTDOG · May 27th, 2008, 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGT

from the pictures I saw on anerds.net it looks sweet and def. visible

edit:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/NASA/...tle/0148260/L/

and

http://www.airliners.net/photo/NASA/...tle/0148517/L/

Sweet pics!

I_WANNA_BE_ATP · May 28th, 2008, 11:33

Sometimes Daytona and Orlando's ATC have problems with spectator aircraft on CAVU days. If you do fly over to watch it from the air, make sure you are in contract with ATC, they'll work with you and keep you safe.

One of the launches I went up with a friend in his 172, ATC was really good working with us, unfortunately the weather didn't. So we flew up to St. Aug's and had dinner. Got to log like 0.5 actual

PGT · May 28th, 2008, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_WANNA_BE_ATP

Got to log like 0.5 actual

I hear thats quite hard in Florida.

taseal · May 28th, 2008, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGT

I hear thats quite hard in Florida.

tell me about it, i logged 4.2 of actual during my inst training haha

May 26th, 2008, 13:28	#1
fast89pony Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boynton Beach Posts: 47	I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch? I was wonder how long before and after the launch do they close restricted area R-2935. Its sits rights above Space Coast Regional Airport where I plan on flying into. I will call for notams before I go but I'm trying to get an estimate. Anybody ever flew in for a launch? __________________ -Don't dress your twins alike.-

May 26th, 2008, 13:34	#2
NickH Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 879	Re: I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch? R-2935 is always active. But it starts at 11,000, so you're probably good. What you need to worry more about is the 30 mile TFR, which effectively shuts down TIX. That's usually active 8 hours before to half an hour after the scheduled launch time. Have fun!

May 26th, 2008, 19:03	#4
Flyin_bryan Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 178	Re: I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch? can you see the shuttle launch in the air from the 30 mile tfr? or is it better closer on the ground? I thought I've heard of guys viewing it from the air?

May 26th, 2008, 19:52	#5
PGT Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: IA Posts: 4,347	Re: I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch? from the pictures I saw on anerds.net it looks sweet and def. visible edit: http://www.airliners.net/photo/NASA/...tle/0148260/L/ and http://www.airliners.net/photo/NASA/...tle/0148517/L/ __________________ College Student 270/20. CSEL/CMEL. CFI soon. 11/20 PUNBAT 8. "The good old days weren't all that good, and tomorrow's not as bad as it seems"

May 26th, 2008, 20:04	#6
Flyin_bryan Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 178	Re: I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch? those are really cool photos, but are they 30 nm away? maybe the tfr around the space shuttle has gotten bigger since 2001 when those photos were taken?

May 27th, 2008, 11:12	#8
phoenix 23684 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 204	Re: I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch? I saw one night launch from the air before 9/11. Back then you could get as close as 15 miles, basically stay to the west of the inter-coastal. It was an amazing experience, I rented a C-172 with 3 other pilots and took off from Daytona, headed south and timed it so we would turn around right as it launched. THe scary part back then was the other 50 planes in the area trying to watch the launch. The other cool thing you could do was called a shuttle tour, basically they let you overfly the runway at 500 feet and gave you other vectors when the shuttles were not at the pad. After 9/11 you couldn't even go south of the Daytona Beach airport, not sure what has happened since 2004, but that was as close as you could get, still since it launched to the north east you could get a great view and the controllers were aweasome at giving you vectors to see the launch. Those pictures on airliners looks like before 9/11, it was def neat to see it take off from below you and watch it go by.

May 27th, 2008, 13:11	#9
Sidious Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Titusville Posts: 675	Re: I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch? Yeah the 30 mile TFR is a pain as it extends all the way down to KMLB. Timing the shuttle launch with being in the air always seemed kinda tough because of the delays and hold times that ALWAYS happen! Anyway I live about 3 miles from KTIX- if anyone is coming in I would recommend just going to the river- the pad is directly across and you can see the launch beautifully

May 28th, 2008, 11:33	#11
I_WANNA_BE_ATP Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: 3rd Rock From the Sun Posts: 873	Re: I'm flying to Cape Canaveral for a space shuttle launch? Sometimes Daytona and Orlando's ATC have problems with spectator aircraft on CAVU days. If you do fly over to watch it from the air, make sure you are in contract with ATC, they'll work with you and keep you safe. One of the launches I went up with a friend in his 172, ATC was really good working with us, unfortunately the weather didn't. So we flew up to St. Aug's and had dinner. Got to log like 0.5 actual __________________ Nolite Te Bastasdes Carborundrum !!!!!

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