SUN 'n FUN 50th In-Flight Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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OFFICIAL 2024 IN-FLIGHT GUIDE

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Welcome from Gene!

FLY-IN

Welcome to the 50th SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo and thank you for joining us as we Celebrate Fly-In Happy for 50 years!! As an organization, we are forever grateful to the believers: the pioneers, our board members, the City of Lakeland, the Lakeland Linder International Airport, Polk County, Visit Central Florida, exhibitors, vendors, partners and attendees that have contributed to our success. We are especially grateful to the over 20,000 volunteers, that we have on record, who have dedicated their time and talents to make us what we are today!!

What better way to kick off our celebration than with an Opening Night Concert featuring country music artist, Dylan Scott, with a special guest appearance by Sara Evans. The celebration continues all week, showcasing spectacular airshows, phenomenal aircraft displays, innovative technologies in aviation, engaging hands-on workshops and forums, and pathways for aspiring aviation professionals.

With our visitors in mind, we’re thrilled to unveil our latest additions and improvements to the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. Among those is the Future ‘n Flight Plaza, where over 70 exhibits by aviation industry leaders present cutting edge innovations and training schools chart career pathways in aviation. Navigating the activities, airshows, and amenities has become easier with new way-finding signs around the campus, and we’ve added more shaded areas, picnic tables, and benches to provide comfortable seating as you take in the sights and sounds of the airshows and exhibitors.

Speaking of exhibitors, we are grateful for the record-breaking number of them here all week to showcase their services and products. They consistently continue to improve the aviation industry and lead the way for future innovation.

Though many will tell you that SUN ‘n FUN is a magical place, it does not happen by magic. Over 2,900 dedicated volunteers converge on this campus every March and April. They join us for any amount of time from one week to throughout the year to execute the second largest Fly-In in the United States. Leading up to the Fly-In, our volunteers can be found doing everything from clearing debris and planting flowers, to welding bridges and painting buildings, to making sandwiches or parking airplanes, to serving our guests at the ticket window or any array of tasks. This dedicated group of volunteers are the life blood of what we are and who we are and without them, we would not exist.

We are grateful for the faithful participation of those volunteers, our community partners, and aviation enthusiasts like you that have enabled us to produce a world-class aviation education entity called the Aerospace Center for Excellence, or ACE. ACE is the educational arm of our organization and is now the parent company of the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. The success of the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo each year is critically important, as the net proceeds of SUN ‘n FUN are directly invested back into our year-round aerospace and STEM programming for our youth, thereby creating the environment and inspiration for us to ENGAGE, EDUCATE, and ACCELERATE the next generation of aerospace professionals.

Fifty years is undoubtedly a significant milestone for the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo to celebrate and we are excited to craft the blueprint for the next 50. In partnership with the Lakeland Linder International Airport, Visit Central Florida, and our engineering firm, CMT, we have already begun the effort to reimagine our footprint on the airport for our next 50 years. We invite you to visit our Master Site Plan tent (SE-10B) located in the Future ‘n Flight Plaza and learn about the process, participate in our forums, and give us your feedback and insight to help us reimagine our year-round and Fly-In footprint on the airport. The coming airport enhancements bring opportunity for us to build a bigger, better, and brighter future for aviation with every anniversary; we hope you continue to join the journey.

On behalf of the Aerospace Center for Excellence and SUN ’n FUN Boards, our incredible sponsors, my team, and more than 2,900 volunteers, we sincerely hope you enjoy your Fly-In. We are thrilled to celebrate aviation with you, and we look forward to welcoming you back next year for our 51st annual SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo, April 1-6, 2025. Enjoy your time at SUN ’n FUN 2024!

- Gene Conrad - CEO SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo

Though the phrase “Unfreeze your bird” might for most folks conjure thoughts of Thanksgiving turkey, for half a century it’s meant a whole ‘nuther sort of winged creature, hundreds of them – aircraft of all types and sizes flocking each spring to Florida along with their pilots, families and fans. If you’re reading this, you know that their destination was Lakeland Municipal Airport, the site of what is now internationally known as the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. SUN ‘n FUN, for short.

SUN ‘n FUN’s founding in 1974 at Drane Field - now known as Lakeland Linder International Airport - was a humble, regional aviation community affair when compared to the expansive, international aviation spectacle attendees experience today. Members of the Lakeland Chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA #454), the Florida Sport Aviation, Antique and Classic Airplane Association (FSAACAA), and the Southeast Sport Aviation Council (SESAC) often enjoyed numerous

fly-ins around the state of Florida. Not surprisingly, Florida’s year-round flying weather and frequent flying events were top reasons many pilots and homebuilders formerly from points up north had settled in the “Sunshine State.” In 1974 a number of members of those organizations gathered to create a new regional fly-in at Lakeland modelled after the success of EAA’s annual fly-in at its Oshkosh, Wisconsin home.

The original intent was to keep the new Lakeland fly-in low key and fun, keeping it a “members only” event. Additionally, by not featuring an airshow the organizers could avoid the requisite permitting hassles. However, welcoming a broad representation of aircraft was certainly the aim, be they home-

builts, the fairly new ultralights, antiques and classics, and restored military aircraft, the warbirds.

The newly established non-profit organization, Southeast EAA Regional Fly-in, Incorporated, assigned chairmen their duties, recruited dozens of volunteers for assorted tasks, and soon EAA members were receiving the invitation to “Unfreeze Your Bird” by flying in for a three-day event over January 24-26, 1975 at Drane Field. Originally referred to as the Mid-Winter SUN ’n FUN, it soon became known simply as SUN ’n FUN.

With the local support of visionary leaders with the City of Lakeland, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, and Polk County, advance publicity in EAA newsletters and magazines like EAA Sport Aviation and Flying encouraged those wishing to “Unfreeze Your Bird” to consider arriving well in advance so they could additionally visit local attractions like Disney World, Cape Canaveral, Cypress Gardens and others.

SUN ’n FUN could soon boast of earlier “Pioneers,” the small and dedicated cadre of volunteers needed to ready the southwest corner of Drane Field for the inaugural fly-in. In October of 1974, the first of them began arriving to make the airport suitable for visiting aircraft and car parking, camping, concessions, forums, displays and other requisite services (this “Pioneers” label

in fact lives on through an annual award recognizing volunteers for their significant advance contributions to SUN ‘n FUN).

Having been a WWII air base, Drane Field clearly offered great potential. But in that early stage, it was largely the work of SUN ’n FUN volunteers who built, hauled, painted, and otherwise improved the fly-in site, then on the north side of the airfield. Grass was cut and potholes filled. T-hangar renters vacated their space to accommodate various workshops, food stands, and other fly-in needs.

That January of 1975, fly-in they did. The blood, sweat and toil of the pioneers paid off, and sunny skies welcomed nearly 500 aircraft of all types and makes registered, along with over 2,000 guests. Admission was limited to EAA members and active pilots, and participants hailed from 63 EAA chapters across forty states and three Canadian provinces. Though there was no official airshow, many participants showed off their pride and joy with frequent fly-bys.

Among aviation legends participating were Steve Wittman, George Haldeman, Duane Cole and Matty Laird.

Not surprisingly, the general public clamored to be included and, with necessary safety considerations addressed, was welcomed to SUN ’n FUN from 1977 onward. Improvements implemented by volunteers coincided with the

rapid growth of the fly-in, a move to the southwest corner of the field in 1977 enabling more forums and trade exhibitions and the formal addition of an airshow. The list of early performers reads like a who’s who of American airshow royalty– Leo Loudenslager, Jimmy Leeward, Jim Holland, Duane Cole, Tom Poberezny, Charlie Hillard, Bruce Bohannon, and dozens more. The airshow always delivered unique performances and sights such as champion aerobatics, rare antique aircraft, museum-quality restored classics and thundering military aircraft, from vintage warbirds to the military jet teams and demonstrations.

Many other air and space legends and military aviation heroes would attend SUN ‘n FUN. Over the decades to come the likes of Bob Hoover, Dick and Burt Rutan, Gene Cernan, Frank Borman, Bud Anderson, Paul Tibbets, Tex Hill, Gunther Rall, Scott Crossfield and many others might be seen making a forum presentation, signing books, or simply walking

the flightline and grounds, enjoying SUN ‘n FUN with their fellow aviation enthusiasts.

The City of Lakeland, which nearly immediately embraced SUN ’n FUN, approved airport service improvements and a long-term lease, essential to the organization’s investment in future expansion. The annual use of the airport for the fly-in was also endorsed by Chamber of Commerce officials who presciently projected a significant impact on the surrounding hospitality economy. In no time, SUN ’n FUN became a recognized convention and trademark of the City of Lakeland, Polk County, the State of Florida and, arguably, the United States of America.

But the vision of SUN ‘n FUN’s founding volunteer board and dedication of its early volunteer corps seeded an impact on aviation far beyond an opportunity to “unfreeze your bird.” Spawned by its early seminars and programs created to attract the youngest spectators to the world of

aviation, SUN ’n FUN went all in on its education mission, especially for youth. In 1983, the SUN ‘n FUN board of directors voted to construct on the grounds an air museum, aviation library, and workshop complex. Thus the Sun ‘n Fun Air Museum was born. Later known as the International Sport Aviation Museum, in 2002 it was again renamed, becoming the Florida Air Museum. The Florida Legislature decreed it the “Official Aviation Museum and Education Center of the State of Florida.” Today it boasts over 28,000 square feet housing historic aircraft, interactive exhibits, artifacts and an archives that includes the Howard Hughes Collection, annually hosting over 22,000 visitors.

In 2008 this commitment to youth education culminated in the opening of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA), a career and technical STEM public high school. The CFAA stemmed from a 1989 flight school program partnership with nearby Kathleen High School,

which oversaw the program. By 2014, SUN ‘n FUN introduced the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), a 14-building aerospace STEM facility located on what is the SUN ’n FUN Expo Campus. ACE boasts an impressive array of STEM learning environments and operates year-round, including aerospace summer camps, field trips and outreach programs reaching over 30,000 students annually.

The campus is also home to a Skylab Innovation Center, the Lakeland Aero Club, and the Traviss A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) Maintenance Program. In addition to providing educator assistance programs, STEMbased curriculum, and lesson plans to teachers at all grade levels, ACE awards over $300,000 in scholarships for students to pursue a private pilot certificate, advance rating, industry certification, or college degree. As of

2024, 175 students have earned their private pilot certificate. It is no wonder that as SUN ’n FUN continued to flourish, so has Lakeland Linder International Airport. As of 2023, the former Drane Field oversees 157,000 aircraft operations annually, is ranked 95th in the nation’s busiest airports, and has a $1.5 billion regional economic impact. That early Chamber of Commerce support certainly has paid dividends over the last fifty years.

Speaking of dividends, remember how back in 1975 that first SUN ’n FUN attracted 500 registered aircraft and over 2,000 participants? The 2023 SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo hosted over 3,000 aircraft and 200,000 attendees. The volunteers alone now number over 2,500. Guests hail from every one of the United States and over 80 countries, and its over 500 exhibitors help make SUN ‘n FUN the largest

convention of any kind in the state of Florida and the second largest aviation convention in the USA.

As we look at the colorful legacy of the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, the Aerospace Center for Excellence, and Lakeland Linder International Airport, and the people that made it happen, take pride that YOU are a participant in this historic milestone event. Not only will you unfreeze your bird and experience one of the finest aviation events in the world, but your support also ensures the continued success of SUN ‘n FUN’s year-round mission to Engage, Educate, and Accelerate the

of Aerospace Professionals.

next generation

Photo Credit: Matt Geleske

MAP

Camper

Catholic Service

Corn Roast Country Store

Daily Airshow

East Admissions

Emergency Aircraft Repair

Exhibit Office

Exhibits

Family Oasis

Family Oasis KIDS CLUB

Flightline

Florida

Fly-By

Forums

Friends of Bill W.

Handicap

NE Corner of Exhibits Core Area

East and South side of Campus

West of Florida Air Museum

East & West Campground

Hamilton Road Entrance

Future ‘n Flight Plaza

CFAA

West Campground

West Campground

Airside

East Entry Gate at Airside Center

East of Runway 5/23 Midway

Between Hangars B & C

Campus Wide - See Map

Future ‘n

Future ‘n Flight Plaza (Addl.

Taxiway

West of

CFAA

Lakeland

Leenhouts

International Oasis

Junior ACE’s

Lost & Found

Main Admissions

9 AM-5 PM

9 AM-5 PM

9 AM - 5 PM After 5 PM - Main Registration

Tues/Wed 8 AM - 7 PM

Thurs/Fri 8 AM - 6 PM

Sat 6:30 AM - 7 PM / Sun 8 AM - 4 PM

Future ‘n Flight Plaza

Future ‘n Flight Plaza

End of Laird Blvd. at Vintage Gate

Main Gate - James C. Ray Dr.

Medical Services

Parts Exchange

Piedmont Aerospace Experience

Pilot Welcome Center

Preferred Airshow Seating

Press Center

Raymus Skylab Innovation Center

Security

Shipping Services

STOL Invitational

Sun N Fun Merchandise Tents

Sunset Aerial Circus

The Island Store

Tram Transportation

Type Clubs

Vintage Hospitality

Visit Central Florida Info.

Welcome Tents

Workshops

AM - 8 PM

AM - 5 PM

Hours

AM - 5 PM

- Friday 7 PM

AM - 5 PM Tuesday - Friday 7 PM - 8:30 PM

7 AM - 10 PM

- 11 PM

AM -

Across from Main Gate Admissions

Hangar E

North of Main Gate

The Island - Taxiway Echo

North of Exhibit Area

Peggy Brown Lane

James C. Ray Drive

Campground West of Cornroast Area

Hangar E North Side

Paradise City

Leenhouts Way, Sunset Grill, Warbird Ramp

Paradise City

Taxiway Echo

Campus Wide - See Map

Southeast Corner Runway 5/23

Taxiway Foxtrot

Corner of Laird & Tom Mack Rd.

Campus Wide - See Map

Crossfield Way

Special Thank you to our Local Community Partners for your year-round support in our mission to ENGAGE, EDUCATE and ACCELERATE the next generation of aerospace professionals.

A 50 YEAR FLIGHT PLAN

From the very first SUN ‘n FUN Fly-in in 1975, the culture of flying, families, sun and fun were immediately embraced. A key bonus of the gathering quickly became evident - the opportunity to inspire and educate youth about aviation. In fact, the mission of youth aviation education is among those found in the original articles of incorporation. Today, fifty years later, what is known as the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is a subsidiary of the Aerospace Center of Excellence (ACE), the most unique educational campus in the United States. It’s that original culture of flying, families, SUN ‘N FUN –and your participation in it – that continues to fuel the growth and success of this amazing place. In those early years, introduc-

ing young people to the joy and wonder of flight was pretty grassroots. Kids attending SUN ‘n FUN enjoyed the interaction with volunteers, pilots and performers who were eager to share their knowledge and passion for flight with every encounter. Workshops often saw children making a wing rib alongside a parent, or constructing a balsa wood glider under the direction of a volunteer.

As SUN ‘n FUN expanded its facilities at Lakeland Linder International Airport over the years, opportunities to offer more organized education activities to young people increased as well. The 1980s saw the first exhibit hall built, and by 1988 SUN ‘n FUN was formally hosting

its first teacher workshops and hands-on aircraft building for students. STEM was taking flight in Lakeland, long before it was a buzzword or focus in the education realm.

The following year, SUN ‘n FUN donated $1,000 to nearby Kathleen High School’s newly founded “Project School Flight,” in partnership with students building a kit airplane. Thus began a long and fruitful relationship with the Polk County School System. SUN ‘n FUN’s education focus took another leap forward in 1992 upon the opening of the Florida Air Museum and, soon after, the Buehler Restoration Center. Ten years later it earned its designation as “the Official Aviation Museum and Education Center of the State of Florida.”

In 2005 SUN ‘n FUN dedicated the Tom Davis Education Center, named after the founder of Piedmont Airlines and funded through the Davis Family Trust. Featuring classrooms, sleeping quarters, and kitchen facilities, the center hosted day camps and overnight camps for youth, operating year-round. A fully functioning Boeing 727, donated by FedEx, serves as a technologically integrated learning laboratory and conference room. Currently the center is home to the Traviss Technical College Aviation Maintenance Technician program, another partnership with Polk County Public Schools.

In 2008, the new Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) High School opened in the Crossfield Aerospace Center of the SUN ‘n FUN campus. Philanthropist James Ray, a proponent of youth aviation education and training, recognized the CFAA’s potential and need to grow. His generosity funded the construction of a spectacular 3-story, aviation and STEM-dedicated school building which welcomed its first students

in 2011. A few years later a hangar was constructed nearby to house the newly established Lakeland Aero Club, a flying club for teens.

The newest facility comprising what is now the 14-building ACE campus is the Skylab Innovation Center. Opened in 2021, it offers an interactive laboratory for aerospace and STEM learning in partnership with higher education and technical aerospace partners. ACE additionally provides educational support to the aerospace industry, including pilot, maintenance technician, and college scholarships funded by the likes of The James Ray Foundation and other visionary donors. It is easy to imagine the positive impact ACE will have on the next 50 years of aviation be-

cause of the tangible results ACE continues to deliver every day. However, ACE’s ongoing ability to annually reach over 20,000 students and teachers on its world-class campus, and thousands more through our outreach programming, would not be possible without your presence at the 50th annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo.

Whether you’re a vendor, pilot, performer, or guest at SUN ‘n FUN, you are making an impact on the future of aviation by being here today, and all of us associated with the Aerospace Center for Excellence say “Thank you!” To learn more about how you can support the Aerospace Center for Excellence and the future of flight, visit www.ACEedu.org.

ACEing the Future

In the past 106 years, aviation has transformed travel, moving from a luxury for some to a necessity for almost all, and has proven a key driver to the world’s economy. However, according to a recent Boeing industry study, the aviation manpower needed to maintain the global commercial fleet over the next 20 years calls for 649,000 new pilots, 690,000 new maintenance technicians, and 938,000 new cabin crew members.

This high demand for qualified STEM candidates far exceeds the number of actual candidates who are adequately trained for the aviation and aerospace workforce. With the lack of qualified candidates, the economic future depends on the capability of the education system and of individual institutions to prepare young minds to enter STEM careers.

On one hand, this rapid global growth of aviation offers boundless career opportunities. On the other, it has made it necessary to rethink the content of the K-12 curriculum needed to motivate students to learn science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects so that we can purposefully build the aviation workforce of tomorrow. How does the Aerospace Center for Excellence help with this need? The Aerospace Center for Excellence offers a range of yearround educational programs for ALL ages. From summer camps to field trips to outreach requests, our team of passionate educators and aviators are eager to provide the next generation with experiences and opportunities that will ignite their love of

aviation and fuel their passion for pursuing a career in a STEM field.

The Aerospace Center for Excellence purposefully and intentionally creates informal learning opportunities for young people. Why? Because we know that through informal learning experiences students are afforded the opportunity to extend their STEM content knowledge, ultimately increasing their interest and engagement. We use our programs as a vehicle to introduce STEM-related concepts to students that might provide new pathways toward rewarding aviation careers.

In 2023, the Aerospace Center for Excellence directly impacted

over 22,000 students through our year-round programs. We specifically refer to direct impact because, in addition to our programming for young people, we also provide numerous professional development opportunities to educators. This empowers these teachers with the tools they need to take aviation back into their classrooms, each one a force multiplier that allows us to impact thousands more students from schools all over the country. As of the end of 2023, the James Ray Flight Training Scholarship had provided funding allowing 175 young men and women to earn their Private Pilot Certificate at virtually no cost to them. We are also able to grant nearly $100,000 in continuing educa-

tion scholarships to graduating seniors, thus enabling them to continue their education through collegiate aviation programs and adult vocational programs focused on aviation maintenance training and certification. At the Aerospace Center for Excellence, we are not only encouraged but are excited about the future of the aviation industry. We get the opportunity to contribute to its development every day. We would love to work with you in this effort! Reach out to Educate@FlySNF.org to start a conversation with us. You can also learn more about our work on our website at ACEedu.org.

The Future ‘n Flight Plaza is the SUN ‘n FUN Headquarters for aspiring aviators of all ages.

Located just steps inside the main entrance gate, the Future ‘n Flight Plaza features:

Junior ACES – an Exhibit Tent dedicated to our youngest aviator audience, presented by USAF and AOPA. Participating companies and entities will provide hands-on, STEM-based learning and engagement activities for ages 7 through 17. Sponsored by Dayton Freight, Aeroshell, Redbird Flight Simulations and Zenith Aircraft.

Career Fair – Seeking a job in aviation? Look no further than the Career Fair at SUN ‘n FUN, sponsored by JS Firm.com, Piedmont Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Every company exhibiting in this tent is looking for eager, talented individuals to join their ranks. Future employees may well be hired on the spot.

Flight Schools, Technical Schools, Colleges – Explore the Future ‘n Flight Plaza’s multitude of outdoor aviation exhibitors showcasing education and training opportunities for becoming a pilot, an A&P aircraft mechanic, and many other rewarding careers in aviation. The sky is the limit!

Innovation Showcase – New this year! If you are interested in state-of-the-art technology and futuristic aviation concepts, visit the exhibitors at our Innovation Showcase. Sponsored by Tampa International Airport, the Innovation Showcase includes companies such as Wing Aviation demonstrating drone package deliveries; LIFT Aircraft’s HEXA, an ultralight hover-motored manned flying aircraft; AeroSys showing a technical co-pilot named Goose; Volatus Infrastructures with vertiports and charging stations for eVTOLS, and so much more!

Flight Sim Experience – This is your chance to take a literal look into the future with cutting-edge Virtual Reality simulation technology, and get hands-on experience with the hottest flight sim peripherals on the market. You may not be quite ready to hop in a real F-18 and take to the skies, but the next best thing is experiencing today’s flight sim hardware and software at the Flight Sim Experience right here at The Future ‘n Flight Plaza.

International Oasis – Where visitors, vendors and volunteers from over 80 countries can check-in, find someone who speaks their language, and have their event questions answered. Register your home country and have your attendance added to our event statistics. The country with the most registered attendees in 2024 will have its native flag flow proudly at the front entrance of the International Oasis tent in 2025!

Family Oasis – Located in the heart of our NEW Future ‘n Flight area, sponsored by Carilly and Badcock Furniture, the Family Oasis is designed to give your family a welcoming place to chill while enjoying the grounds of SUN ‘n FUN. Young families will especially enjoy an escape from the sun along with comfort stations, nursing areas, and more.

And don’t miss Kids Club at the Family Oasis at Night – You can enjoy the SUN ‘n FUN nightlife while your kids are engaged in a fun-filled night of their own! Every night is themed to the activities happening at the show, so you and your children can share your experiences. Each ticket includes child care, dinner, snacks and activities.

We know that the many barriers to young people pursuing a career in the aerospace industry include a lack of early awareness and ongoing engagement. This is exactly why we purposefully created Junior ACEs at the annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo.

Junior ACEs is an awesome education opportunity for youth during the week of the Expo. Spearheaded by the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), it provides Expo attendees between the ages of 7 and 17 a deep dive into the STEM and enhanced aerospace learning that takes place throughout the year. Youth have complete access to all three locations hosting Junior ACEs activities; the Skylab Innovation Center, Buehler Restoration and Skills Center, and the Junior ACEs tent located in the Future ‘n Flight Plaza.

Among the many activities Junior ACEs can take part in during the week of the Expo are:

•

Sphero Robots – The ultimate coding robotic ball! Come explore with us as you learn coding skills and inventiveness.

3D Printing – Unleash your creativity! Transform your ideas from sketches to tangible objects.

NOAA Science On a Sphere – Immerse yourself in all things Earth Space Science on our global display system that projects visualizations of planetary data on a six foot diameter sphere.

Flight Simulation – Learn how to fly in our RedbirdFlight Simulation Lab!

Build an Airplane – Join a live build of a real airplane. Build an Aviation Radio – Learn the basics of electronics as you build your own functional radio receiver – then use it to listen to the airshow!

Air Traffic Control Simulation – Try your hand at air traffic control and airport design.

Real and Virtual Drone Flying – Experience the future of aviation with Rocket Drones.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

The Aerospace Center for Excellence is energized to welcome thousands of young Expo visitors to explore this wide array of exciting STEM and hands-on activities, and fully experience the awesomeness of the aerospace industry. As a bonus, each youth is given a map of the various spots within the Junior ACEs area to visit and, after completion of visiting each of those spots, they are awarded a toolkit!

FLY IT FORWARD

In 2019, students from Central Florida Aerospace Academy started a Zenith Aircraft CH750 Cruzer aircraft kit in the Buehler Restoration and Skills Center. The project, named “The Spirit of Lakeland” was completed in 2 years, and the aircraft is set to teach persons with limited to no use of their legs how to fly via the adaptive controls in the left side of the airplane. We quickly found a need for a second aircraft for that mission, and during the 2023 SUN n’ FUN Aerospace Expo, youth of all ages started putting together parts for a second Cruzer, this one named “Fly it Forward”. This second aircraft will be an identical aircraft to the first one, providing ACE the ability to have an airplane for training given maintenance and student loads. This project is proudly supported by Zenith Aircraft Company of Mexico, MO. The all-aluminum aircraft kit is the perfect teaching tool

for students, and its ease of construction makes for a great student project to work on. If you missed out last year on pulling a rivet, you will have another chance this year!

Join our student team of builders in the Buehler Restoration and Skills Center for Junior ACEs, where students 7-17 will get the chance to work on the Zenith kit, and a number of other aerospace activities. Learn a bit about the aircraft build process, watch the team assemble pieces of our kit throughout the week of the show, and pull your own rivet to help get this project into the air!

If you would like to support the “Fly it Forward” project, please visit: https://aceedu.org/about/donate for more information.

FLIGHTLINE SAFETY GUIDELINES

SAFETY IS PRIORITY #1 AT SUN ‘N FUN!

Aircraft ALWAYS have the right-of-way. Please yield.

Aircraft in motion have spinning propellers that cannot be seen and can cause serious injuries. Please be aware of this at all times to avoid injury to you and your party.

You are responsible for your safety and the safety of those in your group.

Please be responsible and courteous around the aircraft. Please do not touch the aircraft without the owner’s permission.

Please mind your camera, belt buckles and other clothing or accessories when bending over to look at an airplane.

Be sure your lawn chairs are attended and secure to ensure they do not blow away and cause damage to people or aircraft.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Drones are not permitted to be used on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus without written permission from SUN ‘n FUN and the FAA.

Pets must be on a leash and are only permitted in the campground.

Service animals only are welcome across the SUN ‘n FUN Campus

PETS, BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS, HOVER-BOARDS, ONE WHEELS, MOPEDS AND MOTORIZED SCOOTERS ARE PERMITTED IN THE CAMPGROUND ONLY. THESE ITEMS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN ANY OTHER AREA OF THE SUN ‘N FUN CAMPUS. EXCEPTION FOR ADA COMPLIANCE.

SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED ON THE FLIGHTLINE, EXHIBIT AREAS, OR AROUND ANY AIRCRAFT. PLEASE SEE THE CAMPUS MAP FOR DESIGNATED SMOKING AREAS.

WARBIRD RAMP

COFFEE CART & FUNNEL CAKES

ICE CREAM TREATS

KAYLA’S HEAVENLY SMOKES

PAPA JOE’S

Cuban sandwiches & coffee

SIVORI CATERING

Sausage, philly cheese steak, corn dogs, burgers, chicken pita, tenders, breakfast sandwich, fries, pizza, pretzels, nachos, and beverages

TWISTED WILLY’S

Pretzels, pretzel dogs, and beverages

WILD BILL’S SODA

CAMPGROUND

BOSS LADY SOUTHERN EATS

COUNTRY STORE

Milk, beer, eggs and other convenient items

NORTH END OF B & C HANGARS

B&T CONCESSIONS, INC.

All beef corn dogs, bacon corn dog, tenders, fries, buffalo fries, nachos, and beverages

WILD BILL’S SODA

NORTH END OF C & D HANGARS

JAVA JUNCTION

Coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte, and tea

VOYAGER

PENCE’S CARAMEL CORN & COTTON CANDY

CROYDON FUNNELCAKE

PEGGY BROWN FOOD COURT

CROYDON FOODS

Philly cheese steak, corn dogs, chicken tenders, and beverages

ICE-CREAM TREATS

DEMETRIS GREEK FOODS

Gyros, pitas, shish-kabobs, salads, beverages

FUZZY’S TACO SHOP

Tacos & margaritas

J&L CONCESSIONS

Funnel cakes, deep-fried Oreos, hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken tenders, fries, lemonade, fountain soda

NICK & BENNIE’S

London broil, chicken, salads, and beverages

PAPA JOE’S

Cuban sandwiches & coffee

ROASTED CORN

SOUTHERN STAR LEMONADE

TWILDYS - Vegan food

PARADISE CITY

CROYDON FOODS

Sausage, corn dogs

BURGER 21

PAPA JOES

CORE AREA

SUNSET GRILL BBQ Cuisine

TEXMEX

PENCE’S CARAMEL CORN & COTTON CANDY

ICE-CREAM TREATS

FUTURE ‘N FLIGHT PLAZA

SIVORI LEMONADE

BOARD WOK NOODLES

Stirfry cuisine

JOHN’S SAUSAGE

HANGAR AREA

ICE-CREAM TREATS

THE FAMILY KETTLE Kettlecorn & pork rinds

THE ISLAND

GARY’S OYSTER BAR

FRESCOS

Breakfast, lunch, dinner offered at this colorful American bistro fare with globally influenced dishes, and bar!

JET’S PIZZA

KIELBASA BUS

Authentic Polish foods - kielbasa, pierogi, potato pancakes

Air Legends Foundation brings historic Lockheed Constellation

“Bataan” to SUN ‘n FUN

The 50th Anniversary SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is proud to welcome the Lockheed VC-121A Constellation, the “Bataan,” of the Texas-based Air Legends Foundation collection.

The VC-121A and other type variants of the Constellation are more commonly referred to as simply the Connie. With its graceful lines, distinctive tri-tail design, and extensive international service with numerous airlines, the Connie is arguably the most iconic four-engine transport of the 20th Century. “Bataan,” built in 1948, is one of only two of its type of Connie remaining airworthy in the world. Its colorful history includes a long career of military and NASA service, a brush with being scrapped, and years of outdoor static display before recently undergoing an extensive restoration to airworthiness by the Air Legends Foundation of San Antonio, which now operates it among its stable of over two dozen airworthy warbirds.

With its speed and great range, this airframe was among several used in 1949 to fly relief missions over the Atlantic during the Berlin Airlift. After conversion to executive transport in 1950, it became the flying command post of General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for Allied Powers in Korea. He named it “Bataan,” after the Philippine peninsula known for the infamous Bataan Death March of 1942, when 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war were brutally force marched more than 60 miles to POW camps. The march alone killed more than five thousand Filipinos and 500 Americans.

cials, including newly elected President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice-President Richard Nixon on a 1953 inspection tour of Korea. In 1966, all C-121s including “Bataan” were retired to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Nevada. In 1970 “Bataan” was repurposed by NASA and renamed NASA 422, one of three C-121s assigned to testing and calibrating ground tracking stations used to communicate with orbiting spacecraft during the Apollo Space Program.

When that program ended in 1970, NASA 422 was acquired by the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where it sat on outdoor display for the next 22 years. Museum officials were considering scrapping “Bataan” in 1993, when Ed Maloney, founder of the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California, offered to take possession of the weather-beaten classic. The agreement included Planes of Fame trading a helicopter for the Connie, which then was made airworthy for its ferry flight to Chino. After being painted in McArthur’s colors, it flew on the airshow circuit for a year until operating costs became prohibitive and “Bataan” was grounded, again, its future uncertain.

In 2015, Rod Lewis, well known aircraft collector, owner of Lewis Air Legends, and founder of the Air Legends Foundation, purchased “Bataan.” Lewis hired Steve Hinton’s Fighter Rebuilders, located at Chino, to undertake its complete restoration. On June 20, 2023, Lewis and the Air Legends Foundation proudly saw “Bataan” return to the skies. The following month “Bataan” made its triumphant airshow return at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

On April 16, 1951, it was “Bataan” on which MacArthur flew to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, where he was relieved of his command by President Truman. MacArthur then flew home on “Bataan” to San Francisco, his last flight on “Bataan.”

Subsequently assigned to the Pacific Air Command in Hawaii, it carried many top generals and offi-

“Bataan” is scheduled to arrive at Lakeland Linder International Airport on Tuesday, April 9th, during the SUN ‘n FUN airshow, and fly in the show again on Wednesday, April 10th. After static display on Thursday, April 11, it will depart after its appearance in the airshow on Friday, April 12. Upon concluding its visit to SUN ‘n FUN, the Air Legends Foundation will fly “Bataan” back to Oregon where it will undergo the installation of an historically correct interior. While at SUN ‘n FUN, be sure not to miss seeing this historic aviation classic!

For the last 50 years, SUN ‘n FUN has welcomed many who have flown their beautifully restored or well-built aircraft to grace our grounds and allow us all to enjoy their aircraft, the workmanship that makes each special, and the care of a job well done. Be they a classic, homebuilt, warbird, rotorcraft or seaplane, many of these aircraft became truly award-winning examples, with the best of the best receiving the highest awards - Grand Champion and Reserve Champion amongst each aircraft division.

We invited the owners of many of the past Champions to bring their award-winning aircraft back to SUN ‘n FUN 2024 for the Echo of Champions, commemorating 50 Years of Fly-In Happy with us. Don’t miss seeing each of these impressive flying showpieces returning to the SUN ‘n FUN ramp - they will be parked front-row along Taxiway Echo!

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! WARBIRDS

A casual visitor to SUN ‘n FUN might think they’re seeing a few thousand airplanes, all in one amazing place, and they’d be right. However, there is actually a method to the Expo madness. Visitors touring the grounds of SUN ‘n FUN will discover that there are six distinct aircraft areas. Here is our summary description of each…

Former military aircraft, restored to airworthy condition for public display on the ground and in the air, are flying history lessons that honor the heroes that flew them. Many think of WWII, and with good reason, as you will see everything from trainers to fighters to four-engine bombers. But this community also represents types that flew in The Great War all the way to Vietnam, including helicopters, transports and jets.

Vintage

Hold on, now. In the world of airplanes, “vintage” means anything built and flown in 1970 or older. If it makes you feel better, call them classics. Most of these are civil and general aviation types that are painstakingly preserved or even fully restored. You’ll recognize names like Beech, Waco, Cessna, Lockheed, Piper and many more with truly historic, vintage pedigrees.

Photo Credit: Matt Geleske

Photo Credit: Kent Hunt

Seabirds

There’s something romantic about any airplane with pontoons on it. Who wouldn’t want the freedom of landing on a pristine lake or a tropical lagoon instead of an airport runway? Large or small, single or multi-engine, check out the gaggle of what we call “seabirds” on display in this special section of floatable SUN ‘n FUN participants.

Photo Credit: Mike Brown

HOMEBUILT

These unique aircraft represent not only their owner’s passion for flying but their ingenuity, resourcefulness, craftsmanship and, in most cases, their perseverance. Many have been built from commercially available kits or designs, and some are one-of-a-kind concepts, come to life. Many, in fact, began as someone’s basement workshop project. See them up close here at SUN ‘n FUN – you just might be inspired!

Photo Credit: Martin Rogers

Paradise City

In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) created the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category of small, lightweight aircraft that are simple to fly. Along with Ultralights, these types of aircraft offer an affordable way for many to begin their piloting journey with a Sport Pilot License. Here you can see up-close the broad and colorful variety of Ultralights and LSA’s, from gliders to powered parachutes to rotorcraft such as gyroscopes, and more.

Aerobatic

We’ve come a long way since the barnstorming 1920’s, when a pilot in a surplus WWI Jenny biplane would sell rides, flying from a farmers field after doing aerial stunts over a town of awestruck citizens. Aerobatics today are still performed both for fun and for admiring airshow crowds, but also by highly skilled pilots in international competition judged by discerning experts. Come see aerobatic-capable civil aircraft alongside more highly specialized types with names like Pitts, Sukhoi, Extra and Edge.

Photo Credit: Eric Kuna

Aerospace Expo

Photo Credit: Mike Brown

Presented by:

Stop by the Pilot Welcome Center

Sponsored by Phillips 66

• Register for the Fly-In Style Pilot Program sponsored by Pratt & Whitney

• Get a free gift just for flying in

• Water available

• Picnic tables for rest & shade

• Pilot Resources & event info. available

• Double M. Aviation - aircraft maintenance services

Fresco’s Kitchen & Bar

Serving Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner, Open Daily 7 AM

The Island Camp Store

Personal care items, paper goods, beverages, groceries and camping items. Coffee served daily.

The Island Camp Store also serves as a location for Instacart drop-off, Uber pick-up & drop-off, General Admission tickets and Aircraft Camping sales.

Wednesday is Islands of the Bahamas Day!! Don’t miss the

One of the oldest traditions of the SUN ‘n FUN Fly-in is for pilots to, well, fly in, and experience the fun of camping among birds of a feather, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. Last year a big hit was the debut of The Island, a dedicated social hub thoughtfully designed to serve the logistical and entertainment needs of every SUN ‘n FUN camper and their guests. We’re glad to say that thanks to the enthusiastic response, this year The Island is back - and better than ever!

Aptly surrounded by seaplanes, The Island provides the logistical and entertainment needs of any camper. But first things first. At the Pilot Welcome Center, pick up the week’s schedule of nightly entertainment which includes guest speakers, movies, and live bands. Then discover amenities including brand new shower houses, air-conditioned restrooms, ticket sales, a tram station, and a rideshare pickup area.

The well-stocked Island Store provides for your personal and aircraft camping needs, from food and beverages, to bug spray and equipment, to Island-branded merchandise and SUN ‘n FUN souvenirs. Grocery delivery to your tent? The Island has it. Not a camp cook? Visit Frescos which provides breakfast, lunch and dinner, or meet up at the bar to tell tales over a cold one. If you’re planning to camp at SUN ‘n FUN, be ready to create some long lasting memories with your old and new friends by enjoying The Island life!

SUN ‘n FUN Welcomes

SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo welcomes The Commemorative Air Force (CAF), the world’s largest flying military aircraft museum, here to help celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

For more than 65 years, the CAF has been dedicated to educating, inspiring, and honoring through flight and living history experiences. The organization’s fleet of aircraft, known as the Ghost Squadron, are maintained and in flyable condition in order to take the airplanes to the people to experience firsthand the sights and sounds of aviation history. The CAF is a non-profit educational organization with more than 11,000 members and a fleet of 179 vintage military aircraft distributed throughout the U.S. We’re delighted to have the following Ghost Squadron aircraft here to perform at SUN ‘n FUN.

TORA! TORA! TORA!

The dramatic recreation of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor features replica Zero fighters, Kate torpedo bombers, and Val dive bomber aircraft, eight in all, along with realistic explosions, fire and smoke. Factual narration complete with President Roosevelt’s address places you in the battle and salutes the fallen soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Don’t miss seeing these historic warbirds up close and the history lesson they vividly portray in the skies.

North American P-51D Mustang “Gunfighter”

The P-51 Mustang, with its speed, maneuverability, long range and firepower, is considered by many to be the best single-engine fighter of WWII. Of the 15,000 produced, only about 150 airworthy examples exist worldwide. First delivered to the USAAF in 1945, the Packard Merlin-powered “Gunfighter” is one the world’s most famous, having appeared on the airshow circuit and providing rides for over 35 years.

“Rise Above” Tuskegee Airmen Theatre and P-51C “Red Tail” Mustang

The CAF Red Tail Squadron is committed to preserving the inspirational legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel. In addition to seeing their airworthy North American P-51C fighter, authen-

tically restored as a “Red Tail” Mustang, be sure to visit the 53-foot air conditioned mobile “Rise Above” movie theatre. Admission is free. With its 160-degree panoramic screen, this immersive experience features an award-winning short film vividly telling the Red Tails’ compelling story.

Douglas SBD Dauntless

The SBD was the only US Navy dive bomber to serve from the beginning of WWII to the end. Considered the most destructive air weapon in the US Navy arsenal, the SBD sank over 300,000 tons of enemy ship, a greater tonnage than any other allied aircraft. Of the over 5,000 produced during the war fewer than 30 SBD’s survive today, with only a handful still airworthy.

North American LT-6 Mosquito

The AT-6 Texan and its Navy counterpart, the SNJ, known as “the pilot maker,” are single engine advanced trainers used during WWII and into the 1970s by the USAAF, USN, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth. This example, originally delivered as a Navy SNJ version, underwent the CAF Georgia Wing’s 6-year restoration and conversion into an LT-6, a combat version called a Mosquito which was used in Korea as a forward air controller.

Beechcraft T-34 Mentor (two)

Used as a military trainer in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Mentors were used to instruct many thousands of Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force pilots. One example here served to train Navy and Marine pilots from 1955 until 1976, when it was mothballed for five years. It then led a vagabond life that would have ended in neglect were it not for the CAF’s Airbase Georgia Wing restoring it in 2016 to its present, airworthy condition. Another Navy T-34 here in US Navy is “#88,” restored and operated by the CAF Florida Wing in Deland, Florida.

Fairchild PT-19 Trainer

The sturdy and docile PT-19 was one of several single-engine primary trainer designs used by the USAAF to enable cadets to earn their wings in WWII. This example was delivered in November 1943 to Moton Field at Tuskegee, Alabama, where it spent six months as a trainer for the Tuskegee Airmen. It was recently restored by CAF Airbase Georgia to appear in its original Moton Field markings, a true piece of flying history.

Beech C-45 Expeditor “Bucket of Bolts”

The twin radial engine C-45 is the military transport version of the Beechcraft Model 18, which began production in 1937. The Army Air Corps first ordered C-45s as a staff transport, and the type was continually modified throughout its 32 years of production. Of the nearly 4526 C-45’s produced through 1945, “Bucket of Bolts”, based out of Fort Worth, Texas, is one of only about 250 flying today.

Lee Lauderback

Design .......................................................................................... B-088

Evolution Aircraft Inc. LP-016

Experimental Aircraft Association EAA LD-007, LD-013

Extra Aircraft USA LP .......................................................................................... N-008

FAA Junior Aces - 07, 08, 09, 10

Flight Club ................................................................................................................ C-049

Flight Design MD-003D

Flight Fast Track B-082

Flight Flix

Flight

FlightHelmet.com

Florida Institute of Technology MD-019B

Fly Breezy LLC Innovation Showcase

Fly Light Sport ...................................................................................................... LP-004

Fly Light, LLC LP-042

FlyBright Pilot Academy SE-009

Flyexclusive ..........................................................................................Career Fair-004

Flying Eyes Optics NE-039, NE-040, NE-041

Flying Legend USA Inc LP-018

Flying Media Group ....................................................................... AC-005, AC-006 FlyInn D-082

FlySto.net B-066

ForeFlight ...................................................................................... C-099, C-100, C-101

Forge Flightworks D-026,

Love

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Precison

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Quiet

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Republic

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Rinehart

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C-084

We Florida Financial B-016

Weldon Pump A-005, A-006

WELL BILT Industries .............................................................................N-040, N-041

Wentworth Aircraft B-010, B-011

Western Michigan University-Aviation B-043

Whelen Aerospace Technologies .................................................... A-075, A-076

Will Smith Aviation C-094

Wine at the Docks Tarpon Springs Hangar A, Suite 1

Wing Aviation Innovation Showcase

Wing View Tint C-066, C-067

Wipaire, Inc. ........................................................................................................MD-032B

Women In Aviation International A-059

Wood Art USA NE-042

X50 Aviaton........................................................................................................... NE-050

Xpace Engineering, LLC LP-010

Yaesu USA D-051

Yaw VR Inc. ................................................................ Flight Simulation Experience

Zenith Aircraft Company MD-026B

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Watch the SUN ‘n FUN Airshow LIVE! Saturday, April 13th

Don’t miss all the airshow action and commentary during the day and in the evening.

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Fly-In Happy For 50 Years!

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Electrical Installation Techniques 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Paul Edhlund SNF Workshop Workshop - Electrical Engines Aircraft Maintenance and Care

Getting Started with Garmin Pilot: Tips & Tricks for New Users 9:00 AM 9:45 AM Garmin Forum Exh. Hangar D - 34-38

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Sheetmetal Fasteners and Techniques 9:00 AM 4:00 PM

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