KFPR – Fort Pierce, The Airport Tiki

The Airport Tiki has been around for at least 30 years. I remember eating there in the early ’90s. It has changed and improved as you will see.

The Airport Tiki

This was always a regular stop after dropping people off in the Bahamas. It was a good place to relax while getting fuel at a competitive price (at least two dollars cheaper per gallon than KORL).

A “Makeover” for N734MG

While getting this shot of a controlled burn enroute, I happened to capture the dual G5s and G650 on the panel. A great improvement

I had an instrument student today that needs to get 20 hours dual and some IFR cross country. Seemed like a perfect opportunity for Corrie Bryant and I to fly down to Ft. Pierce to check out the Airport Tiki.

The Flight

The winds were gusty today and as a result, it was pretty choppy at our assigned altitude of 4000′. We had filed for 5000′ for direction of flight, but I think MCO_APP wanted to keep us in the low sector so they only cleared us to 4000. Not really convinced another 1000 feet would have made it much smoother. As a result, it was a challenge for Corrie to maintain heading and altitude with the foggles on, while I scanned for traffic.

We took our time, as this was Corrie’s first flight in a C-172 (imagine that!) We were in no hurry.

The Flight Back with one lap around the pattern to get three TO and Ldgs

The flight down was a lot of vectors to avoid a lot of training traffic. The flight back was basically straight back to the power plant and visually join the downwind for runway 7.

More on the Tiki

The FBO is really part of the restaurant

“Let’s get a burger!” The burgers were excellent by the way.

PIREP

The cost to Corrie was over $300 as we took our time, and the Hobbs was running.

Aircraft Rental: 3.1 Hobbs * $165 = $511.50
Restaurant bill: 2 Burgers, drinks and fires: about $40 w/tip
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Total: $551.50
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Total flight time 4.3

The place is roomy and comfortable. Server was very glad to see us and went the extra mile for us.

In the 90s, I had many business meetings here with the staff of Able Aviation and Air Ambulance. Bruce Campbell and I operated the Orlando satellite operation, flying a Shrike Commander and a Cessna 414A. Once in a while I would fly down there to ride right seat of their very beautiful King Air 300.

I still stay in touch with Gary Burdsall, who was the owner. He has “rebirthed” the company and it operates as Able Jets now.

Expect to see more about them in future editions.

It’s not hard to find :) It’s at the approach end of runway 32

Corrie got the Cheeseburger special and I got the Bacon and Swiss. Both were excellent

I think he looks pretty happy, don’t you?

This column is created and produced with assistance from the Florida Aviation Network

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