Peter O. Knight Airport

Peter O. Knight served as mayor of Fort Myers and in the state Legislature before moving to Tampa, where he worked as county solicitor and state attorney. He donated the land on Davis Islands where Peter O. Knight Airport was built. The airport is located five minutes from downtown Tampa, museums, The Florida Aquarium, the Amalie Arena, the Tampa Convention Center and Port of Tampa cruise ship terminals. Icon uses this airport as a base for one of its Customer Centers.

It is also located under the lower shelf of the Tampa class B, close to the core of the Tampa Internation Airport and nestled just outside the class D airspace controlled by MacDill AFB. In addition, there are a number of cell/radio towers just to the east of the airport that go up to 650'. I had never visited that airport. It was about time.

Sally and I were on the taxiway before 9:00am. I had Tampa Exec to myself this morning, light winds out of the north. We took off on RWY5 and made the southerly departure from the downwind leg. One plane entering overhead had me in sight (I never saw him) and a Police Helicopter was on a straight in for RWY36 about two miles to the south. I had him in sight. I stayed at 1000' for the ten-minute flight.

Notams said that RWY4/22 was closed. I would be using 36 today with a right-hand pattern. Off the nose across the bay was an airport, but it looked big. KMCF. I love my 696. I captured the AWOS and then tuned in CTAF. Direct/Enter/Enter drew a new track off to my right. There it was, closer than I thought. I was in perfect position for a right hand 45 entry. An Icon A5 was in the pattern, just taking off. I called base and then final. I made a low approach before flying over the ships in port and departing to the east. I stayed at 1000' until east of I75, Sally warning me of obstacles along the way.

Next stop was Plant City, Home of the world famous "Strawberry Festival". This is a big deal and draws a lot of folks from all over Florida and beyond.You can't travel any of the local roads around here without seeing the pickers out in the sun doing the spring harvest. After a brief stop, Sally and I departed for home.

All systems are working well.

Video Notes. Peter O.

Strawberry Festival.