Spruce Creek Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Florida |
| Spruce Creek Airport | |
| Location | Port Orange, Florida |
| IATA code | 7FL6 |
| ICAO code | 7FL6 |
| Airport type | General Aviation |
| Website | http://www.7fl6.com/ |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | (CTAF) 122.975 |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | |
| ATIS | 121.725 |
| Departure | 122.975 |
The Spruce Creek Airport is a fly-in community located in Port Orange, Florida just South of Daytona Beach. The Spruce Creek airport is home to almost 800 aircraft, including everything from vintage warbirds to modern GA aircraft to small business jets. The airport is made up of primarily multi-use taxiways which provide access from the runway to the on-airport hangar homes and parking locations, as well as acting as roads and walking paths for the residents of the community. Spruce Creek (like most communities in Florida) is a gated community. Access to the airport is restricted to residents and their guests, but a public restaurant (Downwinds Cafe) is open for lunch and dinner, and access to the community will be granted to the general public to patronize Downwinds. Downwinds cafe is located on the airport's primary thouroughfare (Cessna Blvd, a dual-use taxiway) and is within walking distance of the airport's primary spotting location. Spruce Creek (in this author's humble opinion) offers some of the best General Aviation spotting in Florida.
Official Spotting Locations
"The Big Tree"
A large Southern Oak tree is the primary meeting spot for the Spruce Creek community, and also is one of the best aircraft viewing locations. Located at the intersection of Cessna Blvd. and Runway 5/23, there are multiple benches and picnic tables positioned around the tree and in the surrounding grass area. A chest-high chain link fence separates the common area from the runway, but the fence is only five feet from the runway's edge and only acts as an obstruction to vision for young children. The majority of the runway is not fenced at all, and the barricade in this area is only intended to keep pets and children off of the active runway. The Big Tree is ideal for spoting in the morning when Runway 5 is in use, but it can be used almost all day. The runway becomes backlit in this location approximately an hour beofore sunset, depending on season.
Runway 23 Threshold Benches
There are a number of benches placed on the North side of the Runway 23 approach end, where Taxiway Lindy-Loop meets the runway. These benches are just feet away from the runway edge, and are not separated from the action by any barriers whatsoever. This location is ideal for spotting in the late afternoon when Runway 23 is in use.
Other Spotting Locations
Runway 23 / Taxiway Lima Intersection
There is a small grass area next to the wind sock at the intersection of Runway 23 and Taxiway Lima on the South side of the runway. This area is off-limits to automobiles, but can easily be accessed by foot or bicycle. This location has ideal sunlight when Runway 23 is in use, from the mid-morning (9am onwards, depending on season) to approximately two hours before sunset.
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large
Beechcraft Blvd. / Runway Intersection
A single bench is located on the South side of the runway, just East of the intersection of Beechcraft Blvd. and the runway. This location is approximately mid-field, and can be used when either runway is in use. The lighting for this location depends on the runway being used, but generally is acceptable any time of the day until two hours prior to sunset.
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large
Anywhere Else on the Airport
Spruce Creek is home to nearly 15 miles of taxiways and other airport surfaces. There are hundreds of hangars, plane ports, and airport parking areas which hide a wide variety of planes. It is probably best to take a bicycle or golf cart to explore some of Spruce Creek's back roads, but there's a good chance that you'll come across something you've never seen before.
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large
Regular Traffic
Spruce Creek has no regularly scheduled service, and is a private airport limited to locally based aircraft and invited visitors. The most common aircraft flying at Spruce Creek are Beechcraft Bonanzas and Barons and Vans RVs, but a healthy mix of any modern (and not so modern) General Aviation aircraft fly at Spruce Creek. Notable aircraft based at the Creek include two P-51 Mustangs, a Fokker DR.1 and Sopowith Camel team, a SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 and a formation display team of Swearingen SX-300s. The largest concentration of flying occurs every Saturday morning, when the "Gaggle Flight" (a group of aircraft that ranges in number between 25 and 50 planes) flies out for Breakfast and returns two or three hours later. A number of organized formation teams exist at the Creek, and can be seen practicing together at almost any time (although the weekends are by far the busiest.)
Facilities and Transportation
Spruce Creek is only accessible by automobile. Once inside the Creek, most taxiways are listed as "aircraft only", but a number of dual use taxiways can get you to the approved spotting areas listed above. Most Spruce Creek residents get around either by bicycle or golf cart, but the entire runway/taxiway complex can be explored by foot as well. When traveling at Spruce Creek, remember to remain clear of the active runway, and that aircraft have the right of way on any taxiway at all times.