Despite a challenging economy that has hit aviation particularly hard, a record number of companies are providing cash and in-kind support totaling more than $1 million for the 2010 Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo, which kicks off next week at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL) in Florida. For the second consecutive year, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is Sun’ n Fun’s Platinum Level sponsor. With a membership base of more than 415,000, or two thirds of all pilots in the United States, AOPA is the largest and one of the most influential aviation associations in the world.
At the Gold Level, Sun ‘n Fun celebrates the support of the Brighthouse Networks, Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau, Honda Power Equipment, PilotMall.com, and Trade-A-Plane. Silver and Bronze sponsors include Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, BOSE, Embraer, Garmin, Gulf Coast Avionics, Miller Lite, Sarasota Avionics, Chevrolet, Piper Aircraft, and General Aviation News, which is also producing the fly-in’s daily, Sun ‘n Fun Today. (A digital version of the newspaper will be posted online each day of the fly-in).
A wide range of partner companies also have provided “invaluable” support to Sun ‘n Fun, fly-in officials said, including: Acentria–Legends Insurance, Alexander Aviation Associates, Amphibians Plus, Aspen Avionics, Cirrus Design Corp., CoolSpace, D.A.B. Constructors, Digitech, Dynon Avionics, Falcon Insurance, Fantasy of Flight, FedEx, Flight Level Aircraft Auctions, Float Planes & Amphibians, GEICO, GES Exposition Services, the Islands of the Bahamas, Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base, Jack Links, Karl’s, Kitchen Craft, Lazy Days, Lincoln Electric, Lowes Home Improvement, Magnify Credit Union, Nikon, Pacific Coast Avionics, Polk County School Board & the Central Florida Aerospace Academy, Popular Science, Honda Motorcars, Remos Aircraft, Revere Survival Products, SAM/Suddath Relocation Systems, Seaplane Pilots Association, Sennheiser Electronics, Shell Lubricants, Snap-On Tools, Ultra Electronics–Flightline Systems, Wipaire, Worldwide Aero Enterprises, XM Wx, and Zaon Flight Systems.
Discounts for advanced weekly and daily tickets are now available online. Special discounts are available to members of the Florida Air Museum and the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA), given in appreciation for the historical involvement EAA had with the start of the event, and to AOPA members on Friday, April 16, in recognition of AOPA Day. Special discounts are also available to active military personnel and residents of Florida. A special Thunderbirds weekend discount package is available to Florida residents, including free admission to children 12 years old or younger.
