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- January 12, 2023
Aircraft for Sale in Tavares, Florida — Florida's Seaplane City
Tavares is a city of approximately 20,000 in Lake County, Florida, proudly self-titled "America's Seaplane City." Located in the heart of Lake County's Chain of Lakes in central Florida, Tavares sits on Lake Dora and has invested significantly in seaplane infrastructure, including Tavares Seaplane Base (FA15), a dedicated public seaplane facility on the waterfront. The city also has access to Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) nearby for land-based GA operations.Chain of Lakes Seaplane Paradise
Tavares and Lake County's Chain of Lakes — a connected network of inland lakes including Lake Dora, Lake Harris, Lake Eustis, and Lake Griffin — offer some of the finest seaplane flying in the eastern United States. The clear, warm Florida waters and calm lake conditions (especially in the morning before afternoon winds pick up) create ideal float operations. The Chain of Lakes provides multiple water landing options, and pilots can explore by air and water simultaneously — a uniquely satisfying Florida aviation experience. Tavares has hosted the annual Splash-In — one of America's largest seaplane fly-ins — drawing hundreds of seaplanes and thousands of aviation enthusiasts each fall. The city's commitment to seaplane aviation has created a thriving community of float pilots, amphib operators, and watercraft enthusiasts. Land-based pilots often make the transition to floats here given the exceptional infrastructure and welcoming environment. The broader Lake County area has a growing retirement and resort population that supports recreational aviation demand.- Floatplanes: Cessna 172/182 on floats, Icon A5 for lake flying.
- Amphibious aircraft: Searey, Aventura, Glasair Sportsman for FL operations.
- Light sport seaplanes: Growing category at Tavares Seaplane Base FA15.
- Land-based GA: Cessna, Piper at Leesburg KLEE for standard operations.