By CONNIE SUE WHITE, Flying magazine managing editor and SUN ’n FUN Today volunteer guest writer At Sun ’n Fun, there are signs everywhere indicating the dedication of what has grown to a force of some 3,000 volunteers who put on a six-day event hosting an estimated 160,000 guests — from the friendly faces of […]
General Aviation
AOPA partners with Build-A-Plane
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has become the latest media partner with Build-A-Plane, supporting the Kids Across America campaign, created to help children make the trip to Oshkosh, Wis., for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 2012 AirVenture. Under the campaign, kids are charged with finding sponsors to fund each mile they travel to AirVenture. The […]
Sun ’n Fun Splash-In at Fantasy of Flight Thursday
Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida, will once again play host the annual Sun ’n Fun Splash-In, a one-day event specifically designed to celebrate seaplanes and other amphibious aircraft. Throughout the day on Thursday, March 29, dozens of seaplane pilots will use Fantasy of Flight’s sparkling Lake Agnes as their chosen landing strip. “Splash […]
Second annual Aeronca Fly-In set for Flabob
The Aeronca Aviators Club will stage its second annual Southwest Fly-In at Flabob Airport (RIR) in Riverside, Calif., on May 18-20. The group is expecting Aeronca and other antique aircraft owners from Southern California, Nevada, Oregon and Arizona. “Last year’s event had over 25 Aeroncas, so we are optimistic about attendance this year,” said organizer […]
Lindbergh Foundation to present awards Thursday
The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation will present the Lindbergh Award and the Lindbergh Spirit Award at a celebration at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Thursday. Legendary inventor Forrest Bird will receive the 2012 Lindbergh Award and Florida businessman-philanthropist James C. Ray has been named recipient of the Spirit Award. “This is […]
Garmin debuts AC-U-KWIK for glass panels
Garmin reported at Sun ’n Fun that it will begin offering AC-U-KWIK Airport Directory data for its glass flight decks. “Pilots around the world depend on the AC-U-KWIK directories for up-to-date information on unfamiliar airports,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “The electronic extension of this data integrated right into Garmin […]
Cessna employees rally for Veterans Airlift Command
Cessna Aircraft Co. donated $25,000 on behalf of Cessna employees to benefit the Veterans Airlift Command on opening day of the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Fla. The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) is a nonprofit organization that provides free transportation for injured veterans. Cessna has designated a Citation Mustang, named “American […]
The family flying station wagon
There are many men who will tell you that when they suggested the idea of buying an airplane to their wives, it very nearly resulted in divorce. But Kenneth Spivey Jr., from Vestavia, Ala., says he had a completely different experience when it came to the purchase of his Cessna 170B. “My wife actually MADE […]
Students take to the skies to thank their benefactor
Thursday at the Sun ’n Fun fly-in in Lakeland, Florida, two 17-year-old students will perform a special fly-by honoring James Ray, the man who donated the money to build the Central Florida Aerospace Academy on the Sun ’n Fun campus. The students, Phillip “Maverick” Herrington and Angel “Talisman” Castellanos, wanted to perform the fly-by to thank the […]