Explore the Coast: A Seat With a View
Northwest Florida’s cerulean waters, its white beaches that become meringue-colored at sunset, silhouettes of tall longleaf pine trees along lake shores, ice-cold springs with its waters forming rivers that snake through forests, and wildlife such as sea turtles, dolphins, white eagles, can be spotted easily on any day. What could make exploring our outdoors even more spectacular? Seeing it all from a bird’s-eye view, of course. Add a thrill and opt for the best seats with a view next time you are thinking about sightseeing. In Bay County, there are several choices. Here are our selections for an afternoon of “oohs” and “ahhs.”
COASTAL BIPLANE
Founded in December 2018, Coastal Biplane takes passengers on an unforgettable flight. The plane is a bright red Waco YMF-5 with original blueprints dating back to the 1930s—it has been manufactured to meet today’s safety and comfort standards. “Coastal Biplane” is the culmination of one man’s longtime passion for aviation. Heath Buckley, retired Army aviator, is the sole owner and pilot. “I was a history major in college and studied aviation in class,” Heath explains. “That’s when I fell in love with biplanes.” After 20 years of service, he wished to spend more time with his family and share his love of aviation with the community. As a resident of Santa Rosa Beach after retiring from Eglin Air Force Base, he chose Bay County for his business. “I am flying out of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, working with Sheltair. The customer service and friendliness are amazing. I found nothing but open arms, so it was an easy choice to continue growing my roots here.”
Considering a flight around the world’s most beautiful beaches? Heath says you can’t go wrong: “If you want to experience aviation in its purest form, flying in an open-cockpit biplane is the way to experience just that.”
Based out of Sheltair ECP at Northwest Florida Beaches International, Coastal Biplane presently offers five different flight packages for passengers to choose from: “Trip Around the Sun,”
“The Reefs of 30A,” “Sunset over Western Lake,” “Date Night over 30A,” and “Treetop Flyer.
For more information and to book your nostalgic trip, visit: coastalbiplane.com
PANHANDLE HELICOPTERS
Photography by Savannah Dean
Based in Panama City Beach, Panhandle Helicopter has several pilots that can take you along the coastline with your choice of routes, depending on the amount of time you’d like to spend in the air, from a 5-mile intro flight, to the 16-mile “Shark Run,” the 28-mile “Shell Island” trip, and the 36-mile “Seaside Tour,” among several other options. JR Hott, owner and pilot of Panhandle Helicopter, was a dive instructor in Panama City Beach’s Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center. After retirement, he and his brother founded Panhandle Helicopter. Several pilots are employed during the summer months with the company’s three Robinson R-44s zipping back and forth on the beach from mid-morning until sunset.
Centrally located on Front Beach Road in the immediate vicinity of Pier Park, just a few hundred feet away from the shoreline, this trip starts off or rounds up a very special vacation. And for locals, be prepared for a different perspective. For more information, visit: panhandlehelicopter.com
SKYWHEEL
Photography by Mike Fender
Opened in 2018 in Panama City Beach’s Pier Park, SkyWheel offers views from above while luxuriating in a fully air-conditioned cabin, with enough leg room to make the stationary round-trip comfortable for people of all ages. Yet, the excitement is guaranteed with spectacular views of Russell Fields Pier, the bustling shops and restaurants at Pier Park, and the Gulf of Mexico’s serene waters just beyond. For hours of operation, visit: skywheelpcb.com