National Museum of Naval Aviation (Pensacola, FL)

It's the 4th of July! You're feeling patriotic...and looking for something to do. Well, there's lots to do at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It is one of the largest and most beautiful air and space museums in the world. There are more than 140 restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation. The historic and one-of-a-kind aircraft are displayed both inside the Museum's 291,000 square feet of exhibit space and outside on the Museum's 37-acre grounds. The Blue Angels A-4 Skyhawks hang in a diamond formation in the seven-story glass and steel atrium. You can view them at eye-level from the mezzanine.

The museum is also the home of space exploration artifacts, including the space suit used for the last walk on the moon. Also, you can retrace the first flight across the Atlantic -- or stand on the flight deck of the USS Cabot. Use the motion-based flight simulator to fly an F/A-18 mission in Desert Storm. See "The Magic of Flight", the museum's IMAX® film projected on a seven-story high screen, and feel like you've had an actual ride with the Blue Angels. Enjoy lunch at the CubiBar Cafe, decorated with over 1,000 squadron and unit plaques reassembled from the historic Officers' Club at Cubi Point in the Philippines. Take the Flight Line Bus Tour on a free 20-minute tour of the approximately 40 aircraft displayed on the flight line behind the restoration hangar.

The Museum also tells the human side of Naval Aviation and features memorabilia from each era of fighting including personal mementos from historic battles, flight logs, vintage equipment, and flight clothing.

The West Wing is devoted almost exclusively to World War II carrier aviation and showcases a full-size replica of USS Cabot's aircraft carrier island and flight deck. Famous World War II aircraft such as the Corsair, Dauntless and Hellcat stand nearby ready for take-off on the wooden flight deck, while others such as the Wildcat, Avenger and Kingfisher fly overhead. Kids of all ages love sitting in the many cockpit trainers for simulated test flights or trying their hands at defending a ship from Cabot's anti-aircraft gun battery. And they can experience the thrill of flight in a 15-passenger full motion flight simulator.

There is no charge for admission. The Museum is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, seven days a week, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The museum's website link is at http://naval.aviation.museum/intro.html. We welcome your comments and questions, so feel free to contact me at joe@stukey.com or visit our website at www.stukey.com.

Fishin' Chix (the fishing women)

Last Monday a local fishing organzation (all female except for 1 male charter boat captain) made their debut on the Today Show. The ladies got national attention with their pink fishing clothes and boots, fishing tournaments, and their catchy name, "The Fishin' Chix". You can read more about them on their website at www.fishinchix.com. They have monthly meetings, instructional seminars, angling information, fishing trips, fun with friends, and a unique Fishin’ Chix name. To be a member, you pay annual dues of $100, plus your share of expenses for charter trips and other special events such as cooking classes, fishy theme parties, and family stuff. And, from looking at their website photos, it appears that they catch a lot of fish! Inquire through their website about starting a chapter in your area. We welcome your comments and questions, so write to me at joe@stukey.com or visit our website at www.stukey.com.

Blue Angels Air Show - July 14-15, 2006

Make sure to see the 2006 Blue Angels air show at Pensacola Beach this year! The official show is on Saturday, July 15th, but there is also a practice show on July 13th and full dress rehersal on July 14th. The Blue Angels put on a great show, flying just offshore from the crowds on the beach. I have several pictures of their planes in flight, which I plan to post in a gallery on our website. If you need information about other items of interest in Northwest Florida, visit our website at www.stukey.com or contact me at joe@stukey.com.

To learn more about the Blue Angels flight demonstration team, visit www.blueangels.navy.mil.

Walk, Jog, Run in Paradise

Tired of the same old scenery or the hot pavement when you're trying to get some exercise? Well, I have found the solution to that problem. This is a photo of my exercise track. Miles and miles of unspoiled beach at Pensacola Beach, Florida. Each day I try to cover about 5 miles, but the scenery can be distracting ---- with all the birds, seashells, porpoises, and other sea life so close. I try to keep up with how long I have been going, so that I don't go so far that I won't be able to get back in time to go to work. This tropical environment is so invigorating that time just flies by. Walking or jogging barefoot is the best way to go. The sand is so white that it resembles sugar when it is dry. It is so clean that it squeaks when you walk on it. Because the sand is soft, more exertion is required to walk or jog, so the muscles get an extra workout. You can wrap up the exercise session with a swim in the crystal clear water and you're ready to start the workday. To find out how you can enjoy this too, contact me at joe@stukey.com or visit our real estate website at www.stukey.com. Feel free to download this photo for your computer background.....and if you need others just let me know.

Real Estate Market Update - 6-1-2006

This month there are some signs of improvement in the local market. Even though the number of houses listed for sale continues to grow (now up to 6,400 single-family homes and condos in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties), the sales improved in May. Six hundred (600) detached homes sold in May (up from 500 in April), and it is interesting to note that 523 of them were under $300,000. Of that number, 352 were under $200,000. The reason --- affordability. The average price of homes in the area is still slightly beyond the reach of the average person making $30,000 per year ($70,000 in a 2-earner family).

The prices are adjusting down slightly when new homes go on the market, but they are further reduced at the time of the sale (after all, it's a buyer's market!). Sales around the waterfront are still sluggish and a smart buyer can get some good deals on those properties.

The outlook for the area is very good right now, with several new downtown condos under construction and a new 2718-acre development, called "Jubilee" in the works in north Santa Rosa County. The Atlanta-based Eagle Group is planning to have the first phase and the golf course completed in the fall of 2007. We welcome your comments and questions. Send them to me at joe@stukey.com or visit our website at www.stukey.com.

"Port Navarre" construction starting in Navarre Beach, Florida

Port Navarre will really change the look of Navarre Beach. Navarre is located on Highway 98, between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach. Port Navarre will be on the barrier island at Navarre Beach, facing the Sound (the inland waterway). Later this year, the Atlanta-based developers of Port Navarre (Roger Festa and partners) will begin to create a residential and retail complex that will alter the entire landscape. About 23 acres of land will be included in the project.

In effect, it will be a new city, costing about $350 million and doubling the number of residences at Navarre Beach. Included will be a 700-unit condominium, shops, spas, restaurants, hotel rooms, and a marina. The project will create a "town center" environment, allowing people to walk between residences and retail shops. High-speed ferry boats will transport residents and visitors along the waterway.

In a separate plan, the town of Navarre is developing plans to create a city center north of Highway 98, much like the Commons in Destin, Florida. If you have comments, please contact me at joe@stukey.com or through our website at www.stukey.com.

Oriskany Aircraft Carrier at Bottom of Sea

On May 17th 2006, after about 3 years of effort, the Navy has finally put the 888-foot "Mighty O" at the bottom of the sea. Explosive charges were placed in key positions in an attempt to cause the ship to remain level while it filled with water. The ship went down in about 36 minutes, much faster than the hours predicted by the experts, about 24 miles from Pensacola, Florida. The fantail went down first, and the ship rolled to the port side before going beneath the surface. The hope is that it landed upright and level, but we will know more after the Navy divers inspect the ship today and remove the cameras.

The Oriskany was active during the Vietnam War, but was decomissioned in 1976. It was declared ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places, so it was sheduled to be cut up for scrap. Instead, it is now the world's largest man-made reef. It is already drawing much interest from divers, and the dive shops are already booked for weeks ahead for dive trips. And, as for fishing, the grouper and other game fish will be finding the ship within hours after it's sinking. The site will be available to the public on Friday, May 20th. Contact us of you have comments or need information about travel, vacation rentals, commercial or residental property, or dive shops in the area. I can be reached at joe@stukey.com or through our website at www.stukey.com.

Real Estate Market Update 5-1-2006

Not much change in the last 30 days...Once again the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Realtors reports that 500 homes sold in April. That's the same as in March, but the total number of properties for sale went up by about 200 (bringing the number to 6,197). With that many properties on the market it could take 3 or 4 months, on average, to sell a property. That's good news for buyers though! Lots of property to choose from and the sellers are willing to consider price reductions. Selling at a rate of 500 units per month, we now have 12 months of supply.

The Florida Trend magazine says that we have 1060 people moving to Florida every day. That is the net figure, after subtracting out the ones that are leaving. So, one of our objectives is to find out where all those new residents are coming from....where they are landing....and if they are buying houses. If you've moved to Florida, or headed in this direction, let me know! You can contact me at joe@stukey.com or visit our website at www.stukey.com.