News

FAA Administrator Marion Blakey sent her regrets, along with eight top FAA officials, to Sun ‘n Fun. She needn’t have worried about an unfriendly crowd at the event’s Meet the FAA forum. Most of the seats in the FAA’s small production studio were filled with people wearing FAA shirts. There were a few outsiders, who […]

Avemco Insurance Co. is dropping its rates. The rate decrease, unusual these days, was announced at Sun ‘n Fun. “We’re constantly evaluating the market and our analysis usually says we have to raise rates,” said Jim Lauerman, executive vice president. “But every once in a great while it tell us to lower our premiums. It […]

“Where is Mary Jane?” So many have asked that question about the venerable airport dog who, for the past several years, has watched over Showalter Flying Service at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) in Florida. The sad answer is that the personable German shepherd passed away peacefully on Feb. 5 at the age of 12. Mary […]

As Rick Adam recalls, in the early years of his company, executives measured their success by whether they made it to the next air show. “We used to show up year after year and people would say ‘we see hundreds of guys like you. How do we know you’re going to stay around?” said Adam, […]

“The future of personal aviation depends on us.” — Harrison Ford, chairman of the Young Eagles program “I think the FAA has been drinking the airlines’ Kool-Aid.” — Rep. Robin Hayes (R.-N.C.) on the user fee proposal “If you don’t like user fees, tell us what you like instead.” — Doug Murphy, administrator of the […]

The Toxo Light Sport Aircraft, which recently had its first flight, made its Sun ‘n Fun debut this year. The plane, built by Composite Aeronautic Group (CAG) of Spain, received a lot of attention from the Sun ‘n Fun crowds. In fact, company representatives had a hard time preparing for a press briefing because the […]

Oregon Aero’s Jude Dennis takes a moment at the Sun ‘n Fun Gala to “chat” with Howard Hughes. The life-size cut-out of the aviation pioneer is just part of the Florida Air Museum’s vast collection of Hughes memorabilia. The gala, held the night before Sun ‘n Fun opens, is a fundraiser for the museum. The […]

R.J. Siegel hates wires. In fact, the retired Apple Computer executive, now vice president of operations at LoPresti Speed Merchants, hates wires so much he designed a wireless headset that not only allows you to talk to ATC and over the intercom, but also talk on your cell phone and enjoy music loaded onto your […]

An effort by museums in Maryland and British Columbia to preserve the two remaining Martin Mars flying boats has failed. The Martin plant at Middle River, Maryland, is where the huge aircraft were built – four of them, originally – as World War II Navy transports. The Glenn L. Martin Museum there had hoped to […]