Jamail Larkins, who is on the 2026 DreamLaunch Tour across the nation designed inspire the next generation of aviation, finds himself in North Dakota. Despite the cold temperatures, he discovers a state that knows what it’s doing in aviation.
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High Water and High Performance: The Comanche’s Resilience
In 1972, Hurricane Agnes didn’t just flood Lock Haven — it ended the production of the iconic Piper Comanche. Decades later, pilot Pat Brown proves that while nature can stop a factory, it can’t dampen the spirit of an aviator dedicated to keeping this classic, high-performance machine in the sky.
Everybody Loves Air Shows
As part of the FAA’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the agency recently posted a video on YouTube looking at where air shows began. The National Air & Space Museum’s Aviation Historian Dorothy Cochrane walks us through the Thomas W. Haas “We All Fly” gallery to discuss the moment when general aviation truly took off.
The Influencer
Aviation has always had influencers, even if nobody called them that. I’m not talking about the ones building a brand or trying to gather followers, however. The original aviation influencers were just people who cared enough to take a younger pilot under their wing, pass along what mattered, and leave a mark that lasted. That was certainly true in my case.
The Real Magic of SUN ’n FUN
The moment the SUN ’n FUN grounds come into view, something shifts. It doesn’t feel like arriving at an event, it feels like coming home. Across the field, familiar faces reappear, conversations pick up where they left off, and new connections are made just as quickly as old ones are renewed.
Living Large: The Pilot Who Turned a Giant Antonov Into a Studio Apartment
Retired helicopter pilot Douglas Fulton brings his massive, Polish-built Antonov AN-2 to the 2026 SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo. Discover the unique history of this “flying apartment” and the adventurous spirit of the man who calls its cabin home.
The Photonanza: Chasing the Perfect Shot
A Bonanza with STC’d custom photography windows becomes the perfect platform for air-to-air photography.
Couldn’t Make It To SUN ‘n FUN This Year?
You can see the best of the air shows at the 2026 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in this video from AirshowStuffVideos. It even includes scenes from the night air show.
From Orbit to Open Cockpits: The High-Flying Life of Ron Wanttaja
Now retired from his career as a space systems engineer, Ron Wanttaja is writing books and enjoying life with his Fly Baby.