Raffle benefits Sun 'n Fun STEM program

Three organizations are partnering to make the 2017 Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo the experience of a lifetime for one lucky winner. Sun 'n Fun, Stallion 51 Corp., and Experience Kissimmee are conducting a raffle from which all proceeds will benefit Sun 'n Fun's Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), the STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—education facility located on the Sun 'n Fun campus at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

The raffle, which launched April 6, is for an exciting vacation adventure. The winner of the ACEMaker Raffle will receive a prize package that includes premium weeklong admission for four, including parking, to Sun 'n Fun 2017; airfare for four; Kissimmee-area hotel accommodations; and attraction tickets for the week—as well as the opportunity to share the cockpit of Stallion 51’s dual-control World War II P-51 Mustang with Lee Lauderback for the hands-on flight of a lifetime.

“We’ve had a great relationship with Stallion 51 and Experience Kissimmee for some time,” said Greg Gibson, operations director for Sun 'n Fun. “We’ve created a special vacation experience for the lucky winner. The crowning experience will be a flight with Mr. Lee Lauderback.

“Every dollar that’s spent for this raffle will go to support the Aerospace Center for Excellence” at Sun ’n Fun, Gibson added.

Nationally recognized and honored for its STEM-based aviation education programs, ACE is anchored by the Central Florida Aerospace Academy. Programs currently offered include airframe and powerplant training, aircraft restoration, and year-round educational activities for students of all ages. ACE gives ordinary students extraordinary futures by teaching them the skills needed to become the next generation of aviation professionals, Sun 'n Fun said in a press release.

“We’re just pleased to support this program. This is the next generation of pilots coming up,” Lauderback added. “I would go buy a bunch of tickets—because I’m going to buy a bunch myself.”

Individual tickets can be purchased for $20 on the Sun 'n Fun website. Rules and full details also are available online. The winner will be announced at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July.