15:00 HRS, EST...if you fly an approach to runway 5, with full graphics in operation, I find a most realistic ORBX Global mix of straight roads, and cul-de-sac suburbs surrounding the many small lakes that also themselves, surround KGIF.  This ORBX airport, had made me wish to take a bike trip down to this area of Florida for sure!  I have a thing for lake shores, ocean shores...water bodies of any kind, really...(I was probably a duck in my last incarnation, lol!), and oh...thunderstorms and rumble can be heard through the headset, at my posted flight time, though the activity not truly near the airport at this time. Doing touch and go's off of runway 5, and enjoying all that ORBX is dishing up...under full open Scenery Sliders.  I recommend this to you all!

 

Back to the T and G's, in the SkyMaster 377 Turbo equipped....and oh....with the custom sound package installed...WHAT A PLANE!  I can't stop flying it!  I have more powerful brethren in the hangar...but what a fun plane to fly...LOVE the in-line dual pull/push prop setup....and great VFR usage....high-wing....it's what you want for ORBX goodness at 2,800 FT!    The 'tweaked' Turbo I added to the plane really makes this airframe COOK!

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------>  "Woosh"...........

 

Post Edit:  Question for actual AVSIM members that live in this area of Florida.  The question is;  Can you safely swim in these lakes, without fear of alligators in these inland bodies of water, or...can ANY water body hold alligators...with danger to the swimmer. I am seriously going to plan a motorcycle trip to Winter Haven, perhaps in the Fall, and would love to be able to use the lakes for some rented sailing, as well as swimming recreation.  I know not to swim in rivers in Florida...but again...what is your opinion of lakes in this area. Thanks!

basically any body of water can hold alligators, so I wouldn't advise on jumping in any inland body of water. Especially during this time of the year, there's some nasty ameobas in that water that'll eat you from inside out. If you're gonna go to swim just go to the freshwater places where people already go to. 

tl;dr go to the beach lol

Geez, where are the pics Bud! I got all excited while reading and hoped to see a link or something. I was left empty and alone, and just b4 going to bed. We need a by-law.

 

Bob

Yeah I wouldn't go swimming in random lakes though alligator attacks are pretty rare. The secret gem of Florida are cold springs and spring fed rivers. There are some in central Florida but most are more northern. Ichetucknee Springs and River is a standout. You've never swam in purer water than what comes gushing out of the aquifer. Ponce De Leon fountain of youth? Florida springs! You can float down the river in a tube; takes a few hours. Entirely spring fed and clear and cold; 72 year round. Depth varies from 5 feet to maybe 30 at the deepest. Gator sightings are extremely rare as it's a pretty isolated river. Ichetucknee is about 4 hours north of Winter Haven. Not far from Gainesville. There are others but Ichetucknee is the best. There are very nice springs off the Sante Fe and Suwannee Rivers as well but they are dark tannin rivers and certainly do have gators and manatees as well(Suwannee mostly). Messing with manatees will land you in jail though. The Ichetucknee eventually dumps into the Sante Fe and Suwannee.

basically any body of water can hold alligators, so I wouldn't advise on jumping in any inland body of water. Especially during this time of the year, there's some nasty ameobas in that water that'll eat you from inside out. If you're gonna go to swim just go to the freshwater places where people already go to. 

 

tl;dr go to the beach lol

I knew about the danger of Florida rivers...but wasn't up and up on larger bodies of water.  Ok...sound's like it will be sailing near Winter Haven.....   Thanks for the head's up...!

Yeah I wouldn't go swimming in random lakes though alligator attacks are pretty rare. The secret gem of Florida are cold springs and spring fed rivers. There are some in central Florida but most are more northern. Ichetucknee Springs and River is a standout. You've never swam in purer water than what comes gushing out of the aquifer. Ponce De Leon fountain of youth? Florida springs! You can float down the river in a tube; takes a few hours. Entirely spring fed and clear and cold; 72 year round. Depth varies from 5 feet to maybe 30 at the deepest. Gator sightings are extremely rare as it's a pretty isolated river. Ichetucknee is about 4 hours north of Winter Haven. Not far from Gainesville. There are others but Ichetucknee is the best. There are very nice springs off the Sante Fe and Suwannee Rivers as well but they are dark tannin rivers and certainly do have gators and manatees as well(Suwannee mostly). Messing with manatees will land you in jail though. The Ichetucknee eventually dumps into the Sante Fe and Suwannee.

Great post, dcgator29, and thank you!  I will certainly check your swimming water-immersion suggestions out.  Good stuff!  Love to swim...great exercise.  Will take in this perhaps, and the Winter Haven area on my way down to Key West.  That will be the Fall motorcycle vacation for this year!  And all to think because of flying in FSXG's Winter Haven virtuosity yesterday! Funny where ideas develop from.....and how quickly, plans can gel.......now looking very much forward to it!

 

Cheers!

Geez, where are the pics Bud! I got all excited while reading and hoped to see a link or something. I was left empty and alone, and just b4 going to bed. We need a by-law.

 

Bob

Nah, Bob...I'm done with pics for all the hoops you have to go to, to get 'em online.  I've posted pics...and people around here know what my system can pump out...lol.  XPX pics already posted here, just to name a few...but...FSXG's Winter Haven area REALLY has all of FSXG's best elements come together, weaved around those wonderful lakes and rivers. It has to be enjoyed at full-bore graphic settings, at about no more than 2,800 FT!  It has interested me enough in the area..to actually see it in R.L.  The 'gator report on this thread BUMS ME OUT...but oh well...it IS...what it IS.....and because of it,  I don't plan any activity where I might even slightly be at risk of being on the menu....;(

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Just messin with ya. I never post them either. I will check em out today.

 

Bob

Just messin with ya. I never post them either. I will check em out today.

 

Bob

There ya go, lol.

 

Enjoy

I fear more the scam artists than alligators here in south florida. :lol:

I fear more the scam artists than alligators here in south florida. :lol:

Scams...I can protect myself from...but an alligator eyeing me as the next meal docket....well...probably not...as they all said...STAY OUT OF FLORIDA LAKES!

 

I'm going to take that advice, Ray!  Although, I haven't seen any 'gators when having landed on a few of those lakes in FSX.   Hmmmm.....better stay in the StationAir 6, with the door closed....

 

BTW...do a few touch and go's off of runway 5....the scenery around Winter Haven is really done well, within FSXG.  Very, very nice...

You are more likely to die (let alone be injured) as the result of an automobile or airplane crash, lightning strike, drowning, fireworks discharge, smoke inhalation, fire, tornado impact, electrocution, dog attack, legal execution or even the impact of an asteroid, than from an attack by an alligator.

 

 

Bob

You are more likely to die (let alone be injured) as the result of an automobile or airplane crash, lightning strike, drowning, fireworks discharge, smoke inhalation, fire, tornado impact, electrocution, dog attack, legal execution or even the impact of an asteroid, than from an attack by an alligator.

 

 

Bob

I dunno...I dunno....I visited a friend who had a lagoon on the golf course, adjacent to their property. You could see two 'gators always (and big suckers!....well fed, lol) sunning themselves 60 feet away from their back door patio. They never let their dog out alone..and was always on a leash.  His wife finally convinced them to move back home...and they are now in Michigan. They liked the house and area...but just not the 'gators and Water Moccasins who took up residence under their latticed front porch!!!!  Had to get people out to remove it.... 

 

I knew already about walking near riverbanks, or even golf course lagoons....but never thought they would hang out in vastly larger bodies of water.  Now...I do!

 

Oh...and not to mention beside's the Florida sunshine and oranges...there's Black Widow Spiders, Brown Recluse Spiders, cream and black scorpions, red fire ants, biting centipedes.. those MONSTER 2 1/2 inch mosquitoes called 'Nipper Gangers'....hmm...have I forgot anything else...well, everybody knows about the venemous snakes...and to add to the list...the Boa's that have taken a liking to the Everglades.  At least they will keep the possum and rat population down...   Sheesh!  I will still go down to Florida...but with the knowledge that there is wild life that can be quite nasty...and worse of worse...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhrggggggggggghhhhhhhh.....the TOURISTS...watch out for the driving TOURISTS....absolutely DEADLY!   Especially if there is any white-hair to be seen....stay clear of that threat, the best you can!   Hmmm...maybe 'gators aren't so bad....

Hey Ses,

If your flying around that area, you should check the FA08 Polk City Fantasy of Flight freeware airfield. Its pretty well done and blends good with Global. Its two intersecting grass strips with the museaum, and it's right up the road from Winter Haven. Check it out at

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?68379-Fantasy-of-Flight-Scenery-for-FSX-SP2-v1-0

You are more likely to die (let alone be injured) as the result of an automobile or airplane crash, lightning strike, drowning, fireworks discharge, smoke inhalation, fire, tornado impact, electrocution, dog attack, legal execution or even the impact of an asteroid, than from an attack by an alligator.

 

Ha! I love those kinds of stats.  Lots more people undertake those stated activities than go swimming in lakes known to have alligators.  And the percentage of lakes with alligators over the geographic area underlying those stated other activities is also quite small.  So that statement is not at all apples to apples.

 

Note: my brother lives on one small lake in nearby Haines City, Florida, and my dad on another, just north of Haines City.  Both lakes have at least a pair of alligators, and nobody swims in those two lakes.  There are lakes in that area that have swimming beaches, and the local authorities keep alligators "relocated" from them.

 

Now.  Water moccasins (poisonous type) are much more difficult to relocate......  As we grew up visiting our grandparents in that area we got chased out of the water much more often by lifeguards who spotted snakes swimming than due to a spotting of an alligator.

Ha! I love those kinds of stats.  Lots more people undertake those stated activities than go swimming in lakes known to have alligators.  And the percentage of lakes with alligators over the geographic area underlying those stated other activities is also quite small.  

 

Note: my brother lives on one small lake in nearby Haines City, Florida, and my dad on another, just north of Haines City.  Both have at least a pair of alligators, and nobody swims in those two lakes.  There are lakes in that area that have swimming beaches, and the local authorities keep alligators "relocated" from them.

 

My son lives in Jupiter Florida and they just bought a house with 5 acres and it does have a lake. He told me he was going to have the lake checked and gators removed. Not sure what that costs, but he has 2 little ones so it needs to be done. His neighbor had their little poodle snatched up by one while they watched. Can you imagine little fido in the mouth of a gator and nothing you could do. Wow!! 

 

Bob