For more than 40 years, pilots on the East Coast have started the flying season with a trip to Florida. Often called “spring break for pilots,” the Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In and Expo has been held in Lakeland, Florida, since 1974 when the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter voted to establish a yearly fly-in. In January 1975, nearly 2,000 pilots descended on Lakeland Municipal Airport for a weekend fly-in. By 1978, more than 10,000 people attended what had become a week-long event, and in 1980 the date was changed to March. Soon the event became a major attraction in the area and new corporate offices and exhibit buildings were built on land near the airport. In 1991, the city of Lakeland approved the lease of 32 acres to the Sun ’n Fun Aviation Foundation Inc. An aviation museum, a youth aviation activities center, the Tom Davis Education Center, clubhouses, campgrounds, night airshow, and much more have been added over the years. Throughout, the event has welcomed pilots and aviation enthusiasts from all over the world, each year boasting larger numbers of visitors from other countries. The event’s main entrance features flags from every state in the United States and many countries. When the event takes place, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport becomes the busiest airport in the country that week. This year the event will be held April 10 through 15.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO
Don’t be left out: more than 200,000 visitors from 60 countries attended Sun ’n Fun in 2017. There were more than 8,000 aircraft operations during the six-day event.
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