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Warm weather, warm welcome

Pilots excited to kick off Sun ’n Fun

March 28, 2023 By David Tulis

Early arrivals staked out prime camping and viewing spots for the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida.

  • Kevin Lacey of the television show 'Airplane Repo' leads a group of youths through the warbird area on March 27, as exhibitors made final preparations for the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo . Photo by David Tulis.
  • Jeff and Nancy Kling of Houston, Texas, are camping out near their Cessna 205 as they join early arrivals for the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, March 26. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Chris Eger maneuvers a Cirrus SR22 toward the display area. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Suzanne Clavette with Icon prepares an Icon A5 for the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo. Photo by David Tulis.
  • An Eclipse EVO gyrocopter is dwarfed by the North American B-25 Mitchell 'Panchito' as pilots, attendees, and aircraft arrive for the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, on March 27. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Pierre DuPont and Dennis Martin prepare an Enstrom 480B helicopter. Photo by David Tulis.
  • A Velocity V-Twin makes a striking sight in the display area. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Jim Waldron of St. Simons Island, Georgia, relaxes next to his Cessna 120 as he joins other pilots arriving for the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Bernd Junkers, the grandson of Hugo Junkers, attends an event introducing the two-person, open-cockpit Junkers A50 Junior light sport aircraft during the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo March 27. Photo by David Tulis.
  • A Boeing Stearman arrives for the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, March 27. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Piper Comanche aircraft populate Comanche Town in the type club area. Photo by David Tulis.
  • A Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter passes the control tower during arrival March 27. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Clouds are reflected in the polished fuselage of a Beech 18 owned by George Loudakis of Stewart, Florida, as he joins other early arrivals for the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, , March 26. Photo by David Tulis.
  • A canoe is strapped to amphibious floats on a Lowery Sea Twister aircraft. An outboard motor is atop the other pontoon. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Tecnam personnel guide a P2008 MkII high-wing into place. Photo by David Tulis.
  • A Beechcraft A36 is featured on the AOPA campus during the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo. Photo by David Tulis.

Jeff and Nancy Kling of Houston set up camp beside their Cessna 205 on March 26, a relatively quiet day for arrivals. The action heated up on March 27 with attendees rolling in. Jim Waldron, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer for St. Simons Island Airport in Georgia, watched the hustle and bustle beside his Cessna 120.

Early arrivals like the Klings and Waldron had action in view on March 27, watching exhibit aircraft and other attendees land and taxi or get towed to their spaces. Modern aircraft like the Cirrus SR22, Icon A5, Epic E1000 turboprop, Enstrom 480B helicopter, Kodiak 900 and a TBM from Daher, and Tecnam P2008 MkII garnered as much attention as vintage aircraft such as the Hughes OH-6A helicopter, Cessna 195, Beech 18, Stinson Reliant, and Boeing Stearman. Warbirds and current military and special-use aircraft like the North American B–25 Mitchell bomber, Boeing CH-47 Chinook, and a Lockheed WC-130 flown for hurricane reconnaissance are always a hit. There are also plenty of aircraft you don’t see every day like the Eclipse EVO gyrocopter, multiengine Velocity, Maule M-7 on floats, and Sea Twister.

AOPA staff set up our campus—right across from the FAA building—and brought in plenty of aircraft. Two of our most popular aircraft, the AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 170B and the AOPA Extra 300L that is up for auction, were already drawing a lot of attention. Our display area also features a Cessna 152 and Beechcraft Bonanza A36.

Brian Norris of Spruce Creek, Florida, wrangles a Stinson Reliant into a display space. Photo by David Tulis. An Epic E1000 turboprop is on display at the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo. Photo by David Tulis. A Hughes OH-6A helicopter is readied for display. Photo by David Tulis. A Maule M-7 on amphibious floats arrives for the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, March 27. Photo by David Tulis. Simon Schell uses his hands and feet to work on a ScaleWings carbon fiber P-51 Mustang replica in the display area. Photo by David Tulis.

Aircraft spotting wasn’t all that was going on early in the show—you never know who you might bump into. We spotted Kevin Lacey of the television show Airplane Repo leading a group of youth through the warbird area.

Attendees will have plenty of time to people spot at our campus this week too—we have a full schedule of meet-and-greet opportunities with social media influencers and aviation giants (check out our lineup).

The warm weather and even warmer welcomes from friends old and new are sure to make this another standout Sun ’n Fun. We hope to see you here.

AOPA Senior Director of Digital Media Alyssa Cobb contributed to this report.

David Tulis

David Tulis

Senior Photographer
Senior Photographer David Tulis joined AOPA in 2015 and is a private pilot with single-engine land and sea ratings and a tailwheel endorsement. He is also a certificated remote pilot and co-host of the award-wining AOPA Hangar Talk podcast. David enjoys vintage aircraft ad photography.
Go to David Tulis's Profile
Topics: Sun 'n Fun, Fly-in

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