SUN ‘n FUN was fantastic this year. If you didn’t make it to Lakeland, Florida, at the start of the month, be sure to put it on your 2015 calendar: April 21-26, 2015. We produce SUN ‘n FUN Today, the daily newspaper for the fly-in, so my view of SUN ’n FUN is slightly different. […]
Sun 'n Fun
Banner year for SUN ’n FUN
“Pick your cliche,” said John “Lites” Lennhouts, as the president of SUN ‘n FUN kicked off his closing day briefing. “We hit it out of the park, hit a home run, what have you.” Great weather, both locally and for those traveling from afar, strong advertising in both Tampa and Orlando, and a stout schedule […]
Splash-In: The wet SUN ’n FUN
By JONI M. FISHER At this year’s SUN ’n FUN, the Seabirds flocked to Lake Agnes at Fantasy of Flight for their 22nd Annual Splash-In. The Splash-In, held on Thursday of the week-long SUN ’n FUN, attracted approximately 70 seaplanes and a large drive-in crowd. The seaplane pilots competed in a variety of contests and […]
Something to brag about
Today is a good day to brag a bit. With the SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo in the rearview mirror, it’s a great time to celebrate where we are as an industry, because there is a lot going right in general aviation these days. So let’s take a moment to recognize just a […]
Celebrating 40 years of great times and great people
“In the uniquely different manner the event is managed, there is the freedom to explore and innovate by any volunteer.” That’s how Karl “Bud” Davidson begins his recounting of SUN ‘n FUN’s 40 years in a new book, “Unfreeze Your Bird: The History of SUN ’n FUN” debuting at SUN ’n FUN this year. Bob Hoover […]
Too big for one airport
Thousands of spectators stream through the gates to SUN ‘n FUN each day. They come from down the street and around the world. When they step onto the grounds they encounter hundreds of aircraft of all shapes and sizes. Flying overhead are biplanes built in the 1920s, transports from the 1940s, production aircraft that span […]
Air shows: The new paradigm
By JOHN CUDAHY No single American industry was as adversely impacted by last year’s sequestration debacle as the air show business. By the end of the 2013 season, more than 60 shows in the U.S. had cancelled as a direct result of the Pentagon’s withdrawal of all military support. Dozens of other shows experienced attendance […]
SUN ’n FUN takes off Tuesday
The 40th annual SUN ’n FUN fly-in takes off tomorrow, April 1, at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport (LAL) in Florida. The Blue Angels are appearing at this year’s show, which also includes a car show for the first time. Check out the fly-in’s website for all the week’s activities, as well as digital copies of SUN ’n FUN Today […]
Surprise SUN ’n FUN showing by Kitfox
When John McBean of Kitfox Aircraft announced earlier this year that the company wouldn’t be able to participate in any of the big airshows, it was a bad news/good news scenario. The bad news: Air show attendees wouldn’t get to see the Kitfox up close and personal. The good news: The company’s success had created […]