Last June my co-pilot (Kathi) and I visited the Florida Keys. One of the highlights was the floatplane trip to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson. If you go to Key West, don't miss out on this trip. Ask for the right seat when you make your reservation and go on either the first or last flight of the day, that way you miss the tourists that are at the Fort by tour boat during the middle of the day. The flight is 1/2 hour each way (3 hours by boat) If there's enough people going you'll be flying in a Caravan as seen in my pix. If not you'll be in an amphib 206. Key West Seaplanes is the operator.

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=115

Mark,

That is really cool. My best friend and his wife did the same trip a few years back, only they had the 206. He would have crapped if he'd gotten the Caravan. So you did get to sit right seat? I always worry that if I went on one of those deals I would get stuffed in the back, which we all know is akin to torture for a pilot. Might as well knock me out like BA Barracus.

So how many miles overwater was it from Key West to the Fort?

Zane,

Yes, I requested and got the right seat. It's about 80 miles if I remember correctly. Nick, the pilot that flew with us seemed bored with the whole operation. When he found out I had 1000+ hours in a 206 and a seaplane rating he suggested I apply for a job. I told him I had a job that allowed me to have the time and $ to fly for fun and didn't want to change that...

Mark