OPENING REMARKS
Hello, SUN ’n FUN fans—and more importantly, hello to everyone who believes in the power of aviation to inspire and change lives.
For more than 50 years, the SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo has been bringing people together around a shared passion for aviation. What began as a small fly-in has grown into one of the world’s premier aviation gatherings, welcoming visitors from around the globe and creating memories that last a lifetime.
None of this would be possible without our incredible volunteers. Their dedication, generosity, and servant hearts are what make the magic of SUN ’n FUN possible. They are the foundation of our success, and I am continually humbled by their commitment to this mission. Simply put, there is no SUN ’n FUN without them.
The impact of those six days extends far beyond the event itself. The success of the Expo provides nearly half of the operating support that allows the Aerospace Center for Excellence to engage, educate, and accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals throughout the other 51 weeks of the year.
Together, we are preserving a remarkable legacy while building a brighter future through aviation. Let’s go!
Gene Conrad President & CEO
Aviation has always been about more than airplanes. At its best, it is a catalyst for opportunity—a vehicle that inspires curiosity, builds confidence, and opens doors to futures that young people may never have imagined possible.
At the Aerospace Center for Excellence, we believe those opportunities should be available to everyone. That belief has guided us to intentionally create programs that meet learners where they are and provide meaningful experiences at every stage of life. From StoryTime and STEM Sprouts for our youngest explorers, to field trips, summer camps, scholarships, and career pathways for students, to educational events and experiences that engage families and lifelong learners, we are committed to serving people of all ages.
This deliberate approach is rooted in our mission to Engage, Educate, and Accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals. Those words are more than a slogan—they are the foundation of everything we do. The stories, programs, and accomplishments highlighted throughout this report are evidence of what is possible when passion, purpose, and opportunity come together.
Thank you for joining us on this rewarding and important journey!
Eric Crump Vice President
ACE TIMELINE
The Past That Allows Us to Build a Brighter Future Through Aviation
1975
The first SUN ‘n FUN (SnF) is held on the north side of the Lakeland Linder Airport.
1980
The first exhibit building is built on the SnF campus.
1989
SnF donates $1,000 to Kathleen High School for “Project School Flight.”
1992
The Florida Air Museum is constructed.
1999
The Aerospace Pavilion opens.
2008
Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) Program begins on the SnF campus.
2011
The CFAA high school is constructed and opened.
2014
The Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) is officially chartered and becomes SnF parent organization.
2015
Lakeland Aero Club (LAC) hangar is constructed.
2021
The Skylab Innovation Center is completed.
2026
Construction begins on the Pavilion and the Museum expansion.
ENGAGE
“It’s been wonderful to see my four grandchildren wanting to learn and wanting to share what they have learned with others. Starting with StoryTime and then STEM Sprouts and now Summer Camps, the programs grow with them.”
- Pam Studebaker
SUN ‘n FUN AEROSPACE EXPO
The 2026 SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo was a celebration of everything that makes aviation extraordinary. For six unforgettable days, our campus welcomed more than 220,000 guests from all 50 states and over 80 countries, creating an atmosphere filled with discovery, innovation, friendship, and flight. Visitors experienced breathtaking airshows, explored exhibits from 571 exhibitors, connected with fellow aviation enthusiasts, and introduced thousands of young people to the excitement of aerospace through hands-on STEM activities.
But the impact of SUN ’n FUN reaches far beyond a single week. Every aircraft arrival, every volunteer, every exhibitor, every sponsor, and every guest helps fuel the Aerospace Center for Excellence’s year-round mission to Engage, Educate, and Accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals. Together, we aren’t just hosting one of the world’s premier aviation events—we’re building a brighter future through aviation.
FLORIDA AIR MUSEUM
The Florida Air Museum transforms aviation history into experiences that spark curiosity and bring families together. We make aviation approachable by creating opportunities for learners of all ages to discover, explore, and imagine what is possible through flight.
As Florida’s Official Aviation Museum and Education Center, we preserve the stories, innovations, and pioneers that shaped aviation while helping new generations see themselves in the story still being written. Every exhibit, aircraft, and interactive experience is designed to connect the past with the future, reminding visitors that today’s aviation achievements began with someone willing to ask a question, solve a problem, or pursue a dream.
STORYTIME
Every learner’s journey begins somewhere. For many families, it begins at StoryTime. Designed for our youngest visitors, StoryTime uses aviationthemed books, songs, and hands-on activities to make reading fun while creating positive early experiences with learning. More than a weekly program, it is often a child’s first introduction to the excitement of aviation and the beginning of a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery, and opportunity. StoryTime is only the first of many opportunities for families to learn, explore, and grow together as children progress along ACE’s learner journey.
EDUCATE
THE NEXT GENERATION OF AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS
FROM CURIOSITY TO CAREERS
As learners grow, so do their interests, abilities, and aspirations. This year, ACE expanded STEM Sprouts to serve learners from Pre-K through fifth grade, completing an important milestone in our commitment to elementary STEM education. By giving young learners age-appropriate opportunities to experiment, build, observe, and ask questions, STEM Sprouts helps curiosity become something students can practice, not just something they feel.
That success also highlighted the importance of what comes next. Beginning next school year, ACE will launch STEMwrx, extending our educational pathway into middle and high school with hands-on programs focused on career awareness, technical skill development, and meaningful exploration of aviation and aerospace opportunities. STEMwrx is designed to meet students at a critical age, when interests begin turning into identity, and learners start imagining what they may be capable of becoming. Together, these programs create continuity across the elementary, middle, and high school years, helping students move from early curiosity toward confidence, competence, and a clearer understanding of the futures aviation can make possible. This is how ACE grows curiosity into careers: by making sure every stage of learning has a purposeful next step.
“As a mom and aviation enthusiast, STEM Sprouts is a dream come true. My children have grown socially while discovering aviation through caring teachers, hands-on activities, and storytelling.”
- Amanda Christie
PURPOSEFUL PATHWAYS
Meaningful learning happens when curiosity is reinforced through experiences that grow with each learner. Summer camps provide immersive, hands-on opportunities for students to explore aviation and aerospace beyond a single day, giving them time to build friendships, solve problems, test ideas, and experience the confidence that comes from doing something challenging. ACE’s middle school curriculum extends that exploration into the classroom, connecting STEM concepts with authentic challenges and real-world careers.
These programs are intentionally connected, not isolated activities. Camps create deeper engagement through experience, while curriculum helps teachers carry aviation and aerospace learning back into the classroom. Each opportunity gives students another chance to participate, practice, and see how science, technology, engineering, and aviation shape the world around them. Together, these experiences deepen understanding, strengthen confidence, and ensure every learner has a meaningful next step on their journey.
“Thank you for an incredible field trip. Engaging, hands-on activities inspired our students, sparked excitement about aviation, and made learning come alive. We truly appreciate this unforgettable opportunity.”
- Dottie Trapnell, School Principal trip. Engaging, hands-on activities excitement about aviation, and made learning come alive. We truly appreciate this unforgettable opportunity.”
YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIPS
For many students, an ACE field trip is more than a day away from school—it is a first opportunity to experience aviation through hands-on learning. Through the generous partnership of the four municipal airports in Polk County and other community supporters, every fifth through eighth grade student in Polk County can experience this program at no cost to students or their schools, including
transportation to and from the ACE campus. That access matters. When financial barriers are removed, more students can stand inside an aviation environment, use real tools, explore STEM concepts, and begin connecting classroom learning with future opportunity. These partnerships spark curiosity, broaden perspectives, and open doors many students never knew existed.
FIELD TRIP STUDENT ATTENDANCE
ACCELERATE
THE NEXT GENERATION OF AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS
“Providing opportunities for young men and women to realize their potential is just as rewarding for the adults as it is for them. I’m honored to have been part of the journey of these amazing young people. ”
- Chuck Brown, Designated Pilot Examiner Chairman of the Board, LAC
LAKELAND AERO CLUB
The Lakeland Aero Club (LAC) gives students something increasingly rare: real responsibility. Members don’t simply learn about aviation—they become active participants in it. They restore aircraft, earn certifications, fly gliders, mentor younger students, and accept responsibilities where attention to detail, teamwork, and accountability matter every day.
Perhaps no experience reflects this philosophy better than the Freshman Flight Program, where Lakeland Aero Club members who have earned their pilot certificates introduce incoming Central Florida Aerospace Academy students to the joy of flight. In that moment, learners become mentors, demonstrating that aviation is built not only on technical skill, but on a commitment to serving others.
The greatest measure of success isn’t simply earning a certificate or mastering a skill. It’s becoming the kind of leader who accepts responsibility, serves others, and inspires the next generation to dream even bigger. When today’s learners become tomorrow’s mentors, the journey comes full circle.
That’s what we mean when we say, “Making Tomorrow’s Greatest Aviators Today.”
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS IN THE LAST YEAR
“I have to pinch myself. I’m a pilot. I learned to fly in high school. And now I can continue my aviation education in college. It’s all thanks to the scholarships from ACE. I can’t wait to see what’s next!”
- Abigail Dowdy
OPENING DOORS TO ACHIEVEMENT
Potential should never be limited by opportunity. Through ACE’s scholarship programs, students receive support that helps turn aviation goals into measurable achievement. Glider flight training scholarships, available beginning at age 14, introduce students to the discipline, precision, and confidence required to become an aviator. Powered flight training scholarships, available beginning at age 16, help motivated students continue toward earning their Private Pilot Certificate in an airplane, reducing one of the most significant financial barriers in aviation. Continuing education scholarships extend that support beyond flight training, helping students pursue college, technical education, and career pathways across the aerospace industry. These scholarships are an investment in capable students who are ready for the next step—and a reminder that when opportunity is made accessible, achievement becomes possible.
“When I first fell in love with flying, I had no idea how I would be able to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot due to my financial circumstances. The scholarship made my dreams come true. ”
Qayla Bailey
As a James C. Ray alumna, I would like to thank the foundation for giving me a life-changing experience. When I first fell in love with flying, I had no idea how I would be able to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot due to my financial circumstances. When I was awarded the James C. Ray Scholarship, my whole life changed. I was finally able to step into the cockpit of an aircraft I had only been able to admire from the outside. I am now a licensed Private Pilot, and I am currently working on my Instrument Rating. The James C. Ray scholarship has made my dreams come true and has impacted who I am today tremendously. Due to their scholarship, I was able to pursue my passions and strengthen my deep love for aviation. Without their help, I have no idea where I’d be.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Camille Foreman
Andrew Pitman
Andrew Pitman’s journey is a powerful example of resilience and perseverance. A Central Florida Aerospace Academy alumnus and 2016 James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship recipient, Andrew dreamed of becoming a U.S. Air Force pilot. That dream changed after he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), preventing him from obtaining the FAA medical certification required for military and airline flying. Refusing to give up on aviation, Andrew pursued Light Sport flight training and soloed in 2018 before his flight school unexpectedly closed. He then shifted his focus to aircraft maintenance, discovering a passion for becoming an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) technician. Today, Andrew works at Double M Aviation at Lakeland International Airport, maintaining a variety of general aviation aircraft and has served as crew chief for a privately owned MiG-17 at airshows. His advice to future scholarship recipients is simple: “Don’t give up.” Andrew’s story proves that passion and determination can overcome life’s greatest obstacles.
Camille Foreman has turned her lifelong passion for aviation into an impressive career path, thanks in part to the James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship. Awarded the scholarship in April 2025 while attending Central Florida Aerospace Academy, Camille began flight training the following month, soloed at just 16 years old in July 2025, and earned her Private Pilot Certificate on January 2, 2026, at age 17. Since then, she has added a seaplane rating, earned her Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, and continues working toward a tailwheel endorsement. Beyond flight training, Camille volunteers with SUN ‘n FUN and the Lakeland Aero Club, where she has gained valuable experience flying, restoring aircraft, and mentoring within the aviation community. She plans to continue her training at Sebring Flight Academy while pursuing a professional pilot degree at Polk State College, with the ultimate goal of becoming an international airline captain and entrepreneur. Camille credits the James C. Ray Scholarship with opening doors that made her aviation dreams possible.
Slade Rosamond
Slade Rosamond has turned his passion for aviation into a rewarding career, building on the strong foundation he developed as a Central Florida Aerospace Academy alumnus and James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship recipient. After earning his Private Pilot Certificate in October 2017, Slade continued expanding his aviation experience while attending college. He worked as an Airport Operations Technician at Winter Haven Regional Airport before joining the Seaplane Pilots Association as Member Care and Technologies Manager. In 2025, Slade took the next step in his aviation journey by joining the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). After successfully completing the FAA Academy, he was selected as an Air Traffic Controller at Oakland County International Airport in Pontiac, Michigan. Today, Slade plays a vital role in maintaining the safe and efficient flow of air traffic, demonstrating how dedication, hard work, and a passion for aviation can lead to an impactful career.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Redbird Flight Simulations
Redbird Flight Simulations helps ACE make aviation training more accessible, repeatable, and achievable. Through its support of the Redbird Flight Simulation Laboratory, students can move beyond imagining flight and begin practicing the skills, procedures, and decision-making that aviation requires. For young learners, simulation makes flight approachable and exciting. For scholarship recipients, FAA-approved training devices provide valuable opportunities to build proficiency while reducing barriers to progress. Redbird’s partnership strengthens ACE’s ability to connect curiosity with capability, giving students a practical pathway from first exposure to meaningful skill development. Together, we are helping learners see that aviation is not simply something to admire—it is something they can pursue.
Piedmont Airlines
Piedmont Airlines represents the aviation industry’s commitment to investing in future talent long before students reach the hiring stage. Through its continued support of ACE programs, Piedmont helps create early opportunities for young learners to discover aviation, understand career possibilities, and begin seeing themselves as part of the aerospace community. That investment matters because workforce development does not begin with a job application; it begins when a child realizes there may be a place for them in aviation. By supporting experiences that spark curiosity and encourage continued exploration, Piedmont helps ACE build the foundation for tomorrow’s pilots, technicians, dispatchers, airport professionals, and aviation leaders.
Visit Central Florida
Visit Central Florida helps ACE share a larger story about the role aviation plays in our region. Their partnership strengthens awareness of SUN ’n FUN, the Florida Air Museum, and ACE’s year-round educational mission, while helping community leaders, families, visitors, and partners understand the broader impact of aviation in Polk County. Aviation is more than an event or destination—it is part of Central Florida’s economic identity and future workforce strategy. By helping amplify that message, Visit Central Florida supports ACE’s efforts to connect tourism, education, industry, and opportunity. Their partnership helps ensure that the impact of aviation is seen not only during event week, but throughout the entire year.
Lakeland International Airport
Lakeland International Airport gives ACE something most educational programs cannot easily provide: direct access to an active aviation environment. As our home airport and a vital partner in our mission, LAL helps students experience aviation as something real, local, and within reach. Through field trips, events, aircraft activity, and daily airport operations, learners can see the many people and professions that make aviation work. That exposure helps transform abstract career awareness into meaningful experience. Students are not simply hearing about aviation careers; they are standing in a place where those careers happen. Lakeland International Airport helps ACE connect classroom learning with real-world opportunity, strengthening the pathway between education and industry.
BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE THROUGH AVIATION
At ACE, Engage, Educate, and Accelerate are more than words on a page. They describe how opportunity grows.
We ENGAGE learners by sparking curiosity through aviation experiences that invite them to explore, imagine, and ask what might be possible. We EDUCATE by connecting that curiosity to hands-on STEM learning, real-world challenges, and pathways that help students build confidence and competence over time. We ACCELERATE by removing barriers, providing scholarships, creating access to training, and supporting learners as they turn preparation into meaningful achievement. This is how the mission works: one experience leads to another, one opportunity opens the door to the next, and one learner’s success becomes inspiration for those who follow.
Because the mission is connected, every investment has a compounding effect. A child reached through StoryTime may return for a field trip, attend camp, earn a scholarship, mentor a younger learner, enter the aviation workforce, and one day return as an adult volunteer at SUN ’n FUN, helping carry the legacy forward for the next generation. This journey matters. The pathway matters. The access matters. Your involvement matters.
This is how WE build a brighter future through aviation.
FINANCIAL POSITION
11-Month Period through May 31, 2026
THANK YOU FOR FUELING THE MISSION
ACE’s donors and partners are not simply supporters of programs; they are co-builders of opportunity. Every field trip, scholarship, camp, exhibit, educational event, and hands-on experience is strengthened by organizations and individuals who believe aviation can change lives. Your support removes barriers, expands access, and connects learners with the people, places, and pathways that make aerospace futures possible.
Whether through financial support, industry expertise, volunteer service, advocacy, equipment, facilities, or encouragement, you help ACE fulfill its mission to Engage, Educate, and Accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals. We are grateful for every business, foundation, civic leader, family, donor, sponsor, and friend who invests in this work.
Your support makes this mission possible, turning generosity into access, opportunity, and lasting impact for the learners ACE exists to serve.
ACE reported an 11-month deficit of $22,641. Because the reported result includes $957,806 in Pavilion capital campaign gifts restricted for a future capital project, ACE’s adjusted operating deficit before SUN ’n FUN support was $980,447.
“Aviation is amazing, and it has the power to completely change lives. If we focus on making the doors of aviation as wide as possible, our future is bright. All of these projects, in progress and yet to come, are about doing just that.”
- Nicholas Mathes, Museum Director
PROJECT COST
$4.2M JAN 2027
ESTIMATED COMPLETION
GOING VERTICAL!
In last year’s Impact Report, ACE shared a vision for the future of the Florida Air Museum and Aerospace Pavilion—a vision rooted in access, imagination, and the belief that aviation history should not simply be preserved, but experienced. This year, that vision is no longer conceptual. It is going vertical.
Construction is now underway to enclose the Aerospace Pavilion, transforming an open-air structure into flexible, climate-controlled learning space that will expand what ACE can offer throughout the year. When complete, the enclosed Pavilion will provide room for early childhood STEM programming, school field trips, summer camps, community events, and hands-on experiences that help learners of all ages connect with aviation in meaningful ways. It is more than a construction project. It is a physical expression of ACE’s mission to Engage, Educate, and Accelerate.
Work is also underway on a new glass wall enclosure facing the Jerry Holland Destination: Aviation playground. This new feature will add abundant natural light to the Museum floor while helping reshape how visitors move through the space and how stories are presented. These improvements are part of a larger effort to reimagine the Museum as a more dynamic, welcoming, and educational environment—one that honors the past while inspiring future generations to see themselves in the story of flight.
“WOW! We love all the improvements you guys are making. What you’re doing for our kids is amazing.”
- Teresa Lucchetti-Christie
Inside the Florida Air Museum, that same momentum is already visible. Two newly remodeled exhibits are complete, bringing fresh energy and interpretation to the Museum experience. The reimagined Florida Aviation Hall of Fame exhibit features interactive touchscreens, allowing guests to learn more about the iconic men and women honored there. The new NOAA exhibit features a curved wall projection and enhanced information about NOAA’s critical scientific mission and capabilities. Guests can now sit on the flight deck of a P-3 Orion and experience what it might feel like to fly through a hurricane.
The next phase of this work will continue to build on that foundation. Plans include new exhibits, improved visitor experiences, expanded educational opportunities, and spaces designed to better serve families, students, teachers, and the broader aviation community. The goal is not simply to renovate a building. The goal is to create a yearround destination where aviation history, STEM learning, workforce development, and community connection come together.
This progress matters because buildings shape experiences. A child who walks into a thoughtfully designed exhibit may develop an initial curiosity in aviation. A student who participates in a hands-on activity may discover a talent they did not know they had. A family visiting the Museum may see aviation not as something distant or specialized, but as something inviting, local, and full of possibility. With every element of this project, now and in the future, ACE is creating more places where curiosity can begin and opportunity can grow.
Going vertical is about more than construction. It is proof of momentum. It shows that the plans shared last year are becoming real, that donor investment is being put to work, and that ACE is continuing to build the infrastructure needed to serve learners for decades to come. The future of the Florida Air Museum and Aerospace Pavilion is taking shape now—one space, one story, and one opportunity at a time.
