Considering to move to Florida, Naples area

[MooneyBob]

We are thinking about moving to Florida - Naples area. It would be work related , possibly opening new company branch down there. I am in the audio video / smart homes automation business.

How is the flying down there? Hangar availability and cost at KAPF ? Livability in general? 

Thansk

[ArtVandelay]

Better wx than NJ (warmer, less IFR), more thunderstorms and occasional hurricane. Taxes lower.  Most places have waiting lists for tee hangars, much can find a spot in a community hangar till one opens up.

[mccdeuce]

My folks live just north of Naples. Fly down there a few times over the years.

controllers are always friendly. Airspace is straightforward. Plenty of places to fly around. 

The beaches are beautiful. 

[Piloto]

Consider an Airpark, there is plenty of them in Florida. No need to pay for hangar and always close to your plane.

Watch attached video.

José

Airpark_FL59.mp4

[Tony Armour]

I am in Naples now, departing tomorrow. Waaaaay busier area than I thought it would be, traffic. More little jets coming and going than I have seen anywhere in 20 years. Cheap AV gas though, great FBO too. Everything in the areas I have been to are beautifully landscaped. Read today, Naples is one of the wealthiest cities in the country. The second highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the US and has the sixth highest per capita income. Real estate is some of the most expensive in the country. I have never seen this many Ferraris riding around....lots of old folks. I'd leave NJ in a heartbeat for Florida though ;-)

[flyboy0681]

Teejay covered most of the bases. No state income tax, not even on capital gains. Fairly low property taxes and the base sales tax is 6%. Ft Myers also has among the cheapest avgas in the entire state (today it's $3.51). No tax on aircraft parts or maintenance either.

Flying during the summer can be a challenge, if the heat doesn't wear you out, navigating around the storms will. Double whammy if you are navigating around storms at low altitude.

The Mooney owners down here are a tight-knit group and we have a monthly fly-in luncheon the second Saturday of each month, typically anywhere from the central part of the state to points south. Destination wise, the Bahamas are just around the corner as are the Keys, especially from Naples. There are great flying destinations within the state from St Augustine to the beaches of the panhandle.

The only downside, if you can call it that, is that it takes two hours of flying to get out of the state.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

20 hours ago, Piloto said:

Consider an Airpark, there is plenty of them in Florida. No need to pay for hangar and always close to your plane.

Watch attached video.

José

Airpark_FL59.mp4

Which airpark is that?

[Oldguy]

17 hours ago, Tony Armour said:

I am in Naples now, departing tomorrow. Waaaaay busier area than I thought it would be, traffic. More little jets coming and going than I have seen anywhere in 20 years. Cheap AV gas though, great FBO too. Everything in the areas I have been to are beautifully landscaped. Read today, Naples is one of the wealthiest cities in the country. The second highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the US and has the sixth highest per capita income. Real estate is some of the most expensive in the country. I have never seen this many Ferraris riding around....lots of old folks. I'd leave NJ in a heartbeat for Florida though ;-)

Sounds like a good location for audio video / smart home automation business.....

[gsxrpilot]

2 hours ago, flyboy0681 said:

The only downside, if you can call it that, is that it takes two hours of flying to get out of the state.

Same problem in Texas.

[flyboy0681]

10 minutes ago, gsxrpilot said:

Same problem in Texas.

And then some.

[Piloto]

2 hours ago, Joe Zuffoletto said:

Which airpark is that?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_Field

 

[Piloto]

1 hour ago, gsxrpilot said:

Same problem in Texas.

Also in Alaska.

 

[Tony Armour]

When I said traffic in my post, I meant auto traffic. Not air traffic, plenty of that too bit the skies are pretty large.