4R9 is a small airport on Dauphin Island on the Alabama coast. It is a pretty sleepy place but there are several interesting places within walking distance of the airport.

I flew out of KDTS and it was an easy route along the coast. It was just under an hour in the old, tired Cessna 172 I was flying. The Blue Angels had a TFR at Pensacola Beach but PNS approach vectored me over KPNS so no harm no foul. PNS approach is able to offer radar service out to about Jack Edwards (JKA). We saw lots and lots of military training as well as civil in the area west of PNS.

4R9 is pretty basic as far as airports go. There is no gas. There is no FBO. There also is no landing fee, which is nice. The runway is 3000' and in pretty good shape all things considered. There are 10 tie down spots on the ramp and all the tie down ropes were in great shape, so no worries there.

There are a few restaurants within walking distance to the airport. We walked to the Pelican Pub. The Pelican Pub has a restaurant downstairs and a nice pub with a deck overlooking the bay upstairs.

The Islander Restaurant had a sign offering rides. The woman at the Pelican Pub said most restaurants are happy to send out a car if they aren't too busy.

Pirates Bar and Grill is a little further but has a great view of the gulf.

On the trip back I got vectored out over the gulf near Hurlburt. I am not crazy about flying out further than I am willing to swim in an old rented airplane. After a few miles I asked how much further over the water they were going to vector me. The controller said to expect a turn in 5 more miles. After a brief, ummm… discussion a new voice came on the air and cleared me direct to Destin. It never hurts to ask and make your point known.

Review by Bob Baggerman
11/5/2021