Sun-n-Fun Today Apr. 1, 2014

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The Official Daily Newspaper of the SUN ’n FUN Fly-In — www.sun-n-fun.org

Table of ContentsSUN ’n FUN Radio turns 20................................................... 15Blue Angels headline airshow ............................................ 16F-22 Raptor roars into Lakeland .......................................... 17Youth Activities ........................................................................ 18International Visitors Center ................................................ 19FAQ: What you need to know .............................................. 20Map of the grounds ................................................................ 22Protect your plane .................................................................. 27Is your plane an award winner? ..........................................29

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40 and FabulousSUN ’n FUN hits a milestone anniversary

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New book celebrates 40 years of SUN ’n FUN,Page 6

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focus on what matters,

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April 1, 2014 Sun ’n Fun Today - www.sun-n-fun.org 3

The entryway to SUN ’n FUN has a new look this year, with the creation of the Aero-space Center for Excellence.

At the core of the center is the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA), the high school on the SUN ’n FUN grounds that opened in 2011.

“Before that we had pockets of educa-tional opportunities, but they weren’t col-lectively structured,” said SUN ’n FUN President John “Lites” Leenhouts. The school became the cornerstone of the new campus. Now that we had the foundation, we were able to create an aviation educa-tional entity.”

There are seven buildings in the Center for Excellence, including the Florida Air Museum, which is home to the emerging Aerospace Discovery Center, the Pavilion, and the Buehler Restoration Center, where students from the high school spend hours restoring aircraft. (You can see the Cub the students restored on display in Paradise City this week).

Also part of the Aerospace Center for Excellence are the Tom Davis Education Center, the Crossfield Building and the Piedmont Aerospace Laboratory.

When the fly-in is over, these three will be restored to education centers for SUN ’n FUN’s summer camps. Destination Aviation

allows students aged 11-18 to fly a plane on the fourth day of a weeklong camp. Young-er students in STEMtastics participate in age-specific hands-on activities.

Recently moved to the front of the cam-pus is the Boeing 727 donated by FedEx last year, which will become a classroom, offering hands-on courses that will allow them to experience the inner workings of a

commercial aircraft.Proceeds from the fly-in and SUN ’n

FUN’s year-round events fund the Aero-space Center for Excellence and all the educational programs.

“SUN ’n FUN is not just spring break for pilots any more,” Leenhouts said. “When pilots come here, they put a brick in the building for aviation.”

It’s all part of SUN ’n FUN’s mission of building a brighter future through aviation, he noted. “Aviation instills the tenets of a quality person — determination, self-reli-ance, respect and confidence,” he said.

But it’s more than encouraging students, he added. “We want people to look at SUN ’n FUN as their way of participating to help aviation recover its former glory..”

Aerospace Center for Excellence debuts

Phot

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Ben

Scl

air

4 SUN ’n FUN Today - www.sun-n-fun.org April 1, 2014

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE

ISSUe 1 — TUeSDAY AprIl 1, 2014

pUblISherSJohn “Lites” Leenhouts

Ben Sclair

eDITorIAl STAFFMeg Godlewski

Janice Wood

proDUCTIoNRussell Kasselman

DISTrIbUTIoNArthur Ward

Paulette Ward

CoNTrIbUTINg WrITerSJamie Beckett, Joni Fisher, Jack

Neubacher, Drew Steketee,William Walker, Elizabeth Walker, Emili Woodhouse

SUN ’n FUN Today is published each day of the SUN ’n FUN Fly-In by Flyer Media, Inc., publishers of General Aviation News and Living With Your Plane. Copies of SUN ’n FUN Today are distributed free of charge throughout the fly-in grounds.

Subscriptions to General Aviation News, $29.95 for 1 year or $49.95 for 2 years.

The views and opinions contained herein do not necessarily reflect those of SUN ’n FUN Fly-In, Inc. Neither SUN ’n FUN Fly-In, Inc., nor Flyer Media, Inc. endorse or sanction the products advertised herein, and do not assume responsibility for such advertising.

www.sun-n-fun.orgwww.GeneralAviationNews.com

© 2014 Flyer Media, Inc., SUN ’n FUN Fly-In, Inc.

All rights reserved. Reproduction of photos or articles by any means is prohibited without written consent.

Tonight, the Eve-ning Programs kick off with “Building Interest in the Future of Aviation,” a panel discussion featuring several general avia-tion heavy hitters.

As part of today’s celebration of 100 Years of Commercial Aviation,” SUN ’n FUN President and CEO John R. “Lites” Leenhouts is hosting the on the stage in the Aerospace Pavilion at the Florida Air Museum.

Joining him will be Jack Pelton, chairman of the board of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA); Mark Baker, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associa-tion (AOPA); Ed Bolen, president of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA); and Matthew Zuccaro, president of the Helicopter Association International (HAI).

As most in aviation, there is a great con-cern about the predicted shortage of pilots and mechanics, designers and manufactur-ers in aviation careers. Questions abound about how to finance aviation education, and how to stimulate interest in young people to become involved in the aviation industry.

The five professionals who will take to the stage tonight can claim about 200 years in the aviation industry. They represent

commercial, busi-ness, military, and recreational aviation in general aircraft, helicopters, jets, pas-senger planes, and more.

While each orga-nization serves a par-ticular audience, the groups represented on the stage share many common goals as their leaders take to the stage to make a statement about the future of aviation.

Those goals are outlines in their re-spective mission statements:

SUN ’n FUN: To preserve and enhance the future of flight through world-class events, inspiring and educating people of all ages.

EAA: EAA is dedicated to serving all of aviation by fostering and encouraging indi-vidual participation, high standards, and ac-cess to the world of flight in an environment that promotes freedom, safety, family, and personal fulfillment.

AOPA: AOPA protects our freedom to fly by advocating on behalf of our mem-bers; educating pilots, non-pilots and pol-icy makers alike; supporting activities that

ensure the long-term health of general aviation; fighting to keep general aviation accessible to all; and securing sufficient re-sources to ensure our success.

HAI: HAI’s mis-sion is to advance the international heli-copter community by providing programs that enhance safety, encourage profes-sionalism and eco-nomic viability while promoting the unique contributions vertical flight offers society.

NBAA: NBAA’s mission is to foster an environment that allows business aviation to thrive in the United States and around the world.

At the end of the panel, there will be plenty of time for questions from the audi-ence, SUN ’n FUN officials promise.

If you are a student with an interest in aviation, here’s an opportunity to meet the decision makers. Already involved in avia-tion, but wondering how you can help gen-eral aviation not only survive, but thrive? Make plans to participate in this interactive session, which begins at 7 p.m.

Making its debut this week is the Light-speed Aviation SUN ’n FUN Treasure Hunt.

Beginning today, participants will use coordinates available at the Lightspeed booth in Hangar D, #51-53 (and posted on the Lightspeed website) to find 25 puzzle pieces placed inside small treasure chests hidden throughout the event grounds.

Treasure hunters must rely on their hand-held GPS or smartphone and clever hints to pinpoint the location, company officials note.

Successful treasure seekers who bring their puzzle pieces to the Lightspeed booth

will be entered into a drawing for a 1 in 25 chance to win a new Zulu.2 headset. The treasure chest is theirs to keep as well.

“We’ve created an exciting promotion around an activity that pilots typically take

pride in: Navigation,” said Teresa De Mers, a Lightspeed executive vice president. “With a 1 in 25 chance of winning our top-of-the-line headset, we expect to see a lot of treasure hunters at SUN ’n FUN.”

According to Lightspeed officials, all treasure chests will be hidden in publicly accessible, safe-to-access areas of the SUN ’n FUN grounds. No digging required.

“Anyone with a smartphone with GPS ca-pabilities can join the hunt,” said De Mers. “There are a variety of free apps available. We’ve posted a couple of easy to use op-tions on our website.”

LightspeedAviation.com/TreasureHunt

Building interest in aviation

Lightspeed launches Treasure Hunt

lites leenhouts Mark baker Jack pelton

Matthew Zuccaro

ed bolen

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You could win a chance this weekVisitors to the Superior Air Parts booth

this week will be able to enter a daily draw-ing to win free tuition to Superior’s XP-Engine Build School.

“Everyone that attends the XP-Engine Build School comes away with a lot more knowledge and confidence in how an en-gine is built, and more importantly, a greater appreciation of the impact proper operation has on the life of the engine,” says Scott Hayes, vice president of sales and market-ing.

“While not everyone who visits our booth during SUN ’n FUN will be an XP-Engine owner, they all will benefit from attending the Build School,” he added.

“We felt giving away a free XP-Engine Build-School tuition each day, Tuesday through Friday would be a great way to introduce owner/pilots to the Build-School and to the quality and craftsmanship Supe-rior puts into all of our products,” he said. “Most of all, anyone who attends will have a lot of fun.”

Hayes also said that each winner will

have the option to select a certificate good for a $1,000 rebate off the price of four Superior Millennium Cylinders purchased through an authorized Millennium Cylinder distributor.

Superior will give away one free tuition during a daily drawing at 5 p.m. Each daily winner will be notified by email.

The Superior Air Parts Booth is at LD-002, which is adjacent to Clubhouse Row, between the FAA Building and the Sunset Grill.

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“In the uniquely different manner the event is managed, there is the freedom to explore and innovate by any volunteer.”

That’s how Karl “Bud” Davidson begins his recounting of SUN ’n FUN’s 40 years in a new book, “Unfreeze Your Bird: The History of SUN ’n FUN” debuting at the show this year.

Bob Hoover put it another way: “SUN ’n FUN always felt like a homecoming for me...a warm, welcoming place to reconnect with friends and my aviation family; a real home-away-from-home where everyone knew everyone’s name.”

Therein are the two touchstones of SUN ’n FUN’s 40 years — selfless individual initiative and a warm inviting atmosphere that welcomes all aviators.

The first is easily quantified in the hun-dreds of chairmen and thousands of volun-teers who not only operate the event, but largely created what we see at SUN ’n FUN today. Paid staffers number only 21. There are 390 volunteer chairmen in numerous roles and thousands of volunteers doing every-thing from picking up trash to working at the museum.

Long-time executive director Billy Hender-son provided Davidson with much of the early history of the fly-in, documenting the work of the Florida Sport Aviation Antique and Classic Association (FSAACA) and area chapters of the Ex-perimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in SUN ’n FUN’s genesis. That’s fitting, since Lakeland local Henderson and his wife Adair were among key names in SUN ’n FUN history.

Others range from longtime board chair-man Bill Eickhoff, now chairman emeritus, and early advocate “Duffy” Thompson, who is still on the board, to aviation pioneer Matty Laird (yes, that Matty Laird.)

But SUN ’n FUN was — and is — the creation of people too numerous to men-tion. They are exhaustively documented in Davidson’s book.

Among early foundations was action by the local Antique Aircraft Association chapter to “go independent.” That produced the FSAACA, which also became EAA An-tique and Classic Division, Chapter 1.

Area EAA chapters were heavily in-volved in SUN ’n FUN’s beginning. And those heading those chapters sought out the vast airshow and fly-in experience of EAA President and founder Paul Poberezny.

Martin Jones became SUN ’n FUN’s first president, with Billy Henderson running the fly-in. A group led by Rocky Sawyer pi-oneered early development of today’s SUN ’n FUN grounds, to which the event moved in 1977 from the airport’s north side. (Now you know: SUN ’n FUN’s Rocky Road has nothing to do with an ice cream flavor.)

Key early participants put up “about $150 apiece” to get started, according to David-

son’s book.More importantly, Davidson notes,

“When someone set about to accomplish some idea, they soon found themselves listed as that chairperson.” The original 30 chairpersons grew by Year Four to some 80, many self-funding their particular improve-ments to the event.

The first SUN ’n FUN was a three-day af-fair in January 1975. It was for EAA mem-bers only and attracted 1,980 guests and 365 planes. Winter bad weather in Northern Florida deterred some out-of-state arrivals, but SUN ’n FUN was billed early-on as a great winter break, combinable with Disney World, Cape Canaveral and Cypress Gar-dens visits.

Organizers also encouraged “early birds” to arrive a month or two in advance to help prepare the event. Hundreds of SUN ’n FUN Early Birds still do.

Nagging issues would be perennial, in-cluding: Would the event be EAA-only, pilots-only or open to the public? (Fences keeping the non-pilot public away from vis-iting planes finally disappeared completely

in 2008.) How much airshow? How much trade show? The event would eventually be subtitled, “International Exposition and Fly-In.” By 2004, more than 500 commercial exhibitors were participating, a number matched at this

week’s fly-in.Then there was the question of SUN ’n

FUN’s official relationship to EAA. A 1989 agreement was re-negotiated as EAA sepa-rated itself from regional events, reportedly due to liability concerns. By then, SUN ’n FUN boasted significant assets it wanted to protect. The two organizations would emerge as “associated” but not “affiliated.”

After the first fly-in in 1975, organiz-ers knew “some accommodation of the non-flying public (had) to be considered.” Among “non-aviation people” made to feel less than welcome, there was none other than EAA President Paul Poberezny — de-nied entry when unable to produce his pilot certificate. He left it in his airplane.

Moving the event to today’s more spa-cious grounds in 1977 eventually facilitated public attendance. Parked aircraft could be safely segregated from non-pilots. The lo-cation also offered large taxiway and ramp areas left over from the airport’s World War II days.

But some clean-up was required, vol-unteers even had to recover spent aircraft ammunition from the gun calibration range behind today’s PILOT MALL Aviation Su-perstore.

By 1978, SUN ’n FUN was the nation’s second largest fly-in after Oshkosh.

As SUN ’n FUN grew during the presi-dency of Oshkosh-savvy Leonard McGinty, would it stay “small and informal?”

Billy Henderson’s influential view was this: SUN ’n FUN would follow the Os-hkosh model IF it could retain its relaxed

Southern hospitality. (It has).SUN ’n FUN also began to pursue year-

round events and links with the local com-munity. The permit allowing a company picnic for workers at the airport’s Piper fac-tory kicked it off.

Davidson believes airshows at SUN ’n FUN began in 1977. The field was closed from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. so attendees could show off their planes in flight. In subsequent years, several airshow acts and fly-bys were staged, including a previously banned for-mation of RVs and the famed races to al-titude by Bruce Bohannon’s Pushy Galore or Exxon “Flyin’ Tiger,” and Jimmy Lee-ward’s 1600-hp P-51. Featured performers soon included the likes of Tom Poberezny, Leo Loudenslager and Kermit Weeks. Molt Taylor’s Aerocar would be a most memo-rable SUN ’n FUN fly-by.

In 2000, Bob Hoover would perform here his last aerobatic show in the Rockwell Shrike Commander. Charlie Hillard, the first American to win the World Aerobat-ics Championship, would die in his Hawker Sea Fury in a freak 1996 post-show nose-over while taxiing in.

It wasn’t long before January weather is-sues suggested a change in dates. It actu-ally snowed during SUN ’n FUN 1977. The 1980 fly-in was moved to March.

Attendance doubled by 1985. Economic impact skyrocketed to $7.5 million that year. The Seaplane Pilots Association made arrangements for an associated “Splash-In” at Lake Parker. EAA Warbirds of America won formal participation. Suzy Eickhoff pioneered activities for women, starting with the Ladies Pavilion.

Other innovations followed, including the Airside Ground Safety “follow-me” motorcycles in 1983.

The event moved to April in 1988. By 1990, there was an extensive new camp-ground called the “Back Acres.”

By the late 1980s, air traffic controller Wayne Boggs — today, SUN ’n FUN’s legendary Air Boss and director of opera-tions — had begun to organize a cadre of FAA controller to keep arrivals and show flying in order. A photo back then shows a tongue-in-cheek banner on a truckload of

Celebrating 40 years of SUN ’n FUN

A view of the grounds at one of the earlier fly-ins.

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FU

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40 YeArS | See Page 34

“SUN ’n FUN always felt like a

homecoming for me.”— bob hoover

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$2.95 • March 20, 2014

66th Year. No. 6

Training that’s just your type P. 22

Pleading the Fifth P.39

Tips to barter and trade P. 12

When the obvious isn’t obvious P. 11

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66th year. No. 4

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The evolution of

the airshow



When John McBean of Kitfox Aircraft announced earlier this year that the com-pany wouldn’t be able to participate in any of the big airshows, it was a bad news/good news scenario.

The bad news: Air show attendees wouldn’t get to see the Kitfox up close and personal. The good news: The company’s success had created a backlog of orders that simply took priority over air show at-tendance.

And while Kitfox wasn’t at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, in January, — and had no intention of making it to SUN ’n FUN — that changed with one phone call.

“We received a call from the U.S. distrib-utor for Rotax engines with an offer we just couldn’t refuse,” he reported. “They asked if we could display our newest Kitfox S7 Super Sport at the independent Rotax Ser-vice and Training Centre booth at SUN ’n FUN this year, as a means of demonstrating the long-time support Rotax has provided to both the kit plane and S-LSA end of the light aircraft market.”

“As one of the most experienced users of the Rotax 9 series engines and manufac-turer of both kit and S-LSA airframes using the Rotax engines, we were honored to be selected as the company to represent Rotax

use in recreational aircraft,” he said.You can see the Kitfox yourself at the Ro-

tax display in the Southeast Exhibit Area, Space 014, near the main entrance.

But what about the backlog at the fac-tory?

When asked about the production issues, McBean responded, “Should I consider it a compliment if my team says they can do just fine without me at the plant? Seriously, we have taken a good look at the production line and this trip will not impact deliveries.”

“The opportunity to support our good friends at Rotax is just too good to pass up,” he continued. “We hope that Kitfox enthu-siasts will stop by and say hello. We may have some surprises to announce and I look forward to greeting folks in person.”

Surprise showing by Kitfox

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Membership Matters

Join, renew or sign up for AutoPilot at the EAA Welcome Center and get a free gift. (While supplies last.)

Catch some shade

Join us at the EAA Member Oasis on the fl ight line Thursday through Saturday. Bring your member card and relax with snacks and fun! Not a member? Not a problem. Visit the EAA Member Oasis to learn more.

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Tuesday, April 1EAA forumsFlight Testing Your Homebuilt9 a.m. | Room 3

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EAA’s 1929 Ford Tri-Motor will make fl ights daily. Purchase your ticket at the Welcome Center or at the Ford Tri-Motor location along Taxiway Foxtrot.

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January 14-17, 2015

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by DAN JohNSoN

It’s official! With the start of SUN ’n FUN 2014, the season of recreational flying is set in motion.

Congratulations are also in order to Team SUN ’n FUN as this is the 40th year of the nation’s first major airshow.

It will also be year #2 for the new and much-improved Paradise City, a part of the event formerly known as the Ultralight or Lightplane Area. In 2013, Paradise City went through a major transformation with a new road that dipped deeply into the grassy area. Earlier grousing about this TSA-en-forced change gave way to a better attitude as the new road turned out to enhance, not hurt, the home to many of SUN ’n FUN’s most unusual and entertaining aircraft.

Part of the of the shift involved the move of the LSA Mall to Paradise City after sev-eral years just inside the main gate and later in the Southeast Exhibit Area.

Now, alongside the curving new tarmac that swoops through Paradise City sits the LSA Mall at Show Center with a dozen of the best-selling LSA offered to North Amer-ican buyers, all sitting wingtip to wingtip, offering easy comparison.

This is a place many will visit throughout the week to take a closer look at Light-Sport Aircraft, light kit airplanes, electric aircraft, motorgliders, rotary aircraft, powered para-chutes, weight shift aircraft, powered para-gliders, and who knows what else.

Paradise City is set away from the main aircraft display areas as it hosts its own, newly-improved turf runway, where show organizers allow flight operations all day long, even while the airshow aerobatic acts are performing. Only a one- to two-hour period will see all aircraft grounded in def-erence to the military and warbird perfor-mance to provide “sterile airspace” to those acts.

TAKE A FREE RIDE TO PARADISE (CITY, THAT IS)

Getting to Paradise City this week will be much easier and faster thanks to six-seat golf carts that pick up visitors near the food court just west of Sunset Grill and south of Hangar A. Those who want to check out Paradise City and all the action in this charming area can take a free lift to and from Paradise City.

Demo flights for LSA shoppers will be readily available — and those potential cus-tomers get priority, but when seats are avail-able, anyone can take a ride on the Paradise City Xpress, as the cart transport system is called. The golf carts are provided for the second year by Rotax Aircraft Engines in support of airframe manufacturers that use its powerplants, many of which exhibit in SUN ’n FUN’s Main Aircraft display.

The 2014 LSA Mall will feature a special treat: Famous author Richard Bach’s Light-Sport seaplane, a Searey he has named “Puff.” Bach cannot be present himself but Show Center will present his aircraft in the LSA Mall.

Last year, he wrote a book about his flight

from Progressive Aerodyne’s factory in Ta-vares, Florida, to Washington state in his aircraft (“Travels with Puff”) and in 2014 he released a new book about his later crash of this airplane (“Illusions II”). Thankfully he and Puff have fully recovered and both have returned to flight, so this is an inspi-rational story from an inspirational author who has sold millions of books.

Bach’s 1972 allegory about a seagull who did not want to accept the limits imposed on him by nature and society became the No. 1 best-selling novel of 1972. “Jona-than Livingston Seagull” became the big-gest surprise of the publishing industry. No one expected a book less than 100 pages to rise to the most coveted spot on best-sell-ing nonfiction and fiction lists. Yet it broke hardcover sales records, selling more than 1

million copies in the first year and 9 million copies in the first five years. It continues to sell, hitting 40 million copies in 2014.

Most aviators warm to Richard Bach’s aviation-oriented writing as his son James stated in an interview, “Dad regards flying as his religion.”

The LSA Mall is hosted by LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, with support from Aviators Hot Line. Their display at Show Center and offers excellent views of the constant flight action in Para-dise City.

For those that want an even closer look, attendees are permitted up to a flight line fence mere yards from the takeoff and land-ing action that makes Paradise City a show-within-a-show. Grab a free cart ride and come see for yourself.

Paradise City showcases LSAs

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bestselling author richard bach and his Searey “puff.”

Stallion 51’s AVMed 51 revealed its new name at SUN ’n FUN: AVDOC 51.

Based at Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) in Orlando with other Stallion 51 operations, AVDOC 51 provides first, sec-ond, and third class FAA flight physicals, assistance with FAA Special Issuances, and a specialized Pilot Wellness program.

Heading up the program is Senior AME and Ophthalmologist Dr. William Busch.

Fly-ins and walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged, say offi-cials.

Find out more at Stallion 51’s exhibit on the Warbird Ramp.

Stallion51.com

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A competition to measure pilots on their use of the iPad as an EFB launches this week at SUN ’n FUN.

The contest, led by MyGoFlight and the IMC Club, is designed to advance the use of tablets, such as an iPad, as an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB).

Interested pilots can enter local contests sponsored by IMC Club, and winners will advance to regional events. Regional final-ists will compete nationally during EAA AirVenture 2015 in Oshkosh.

Pilots will be measured on their use of the tablet as an EFB in terms of efficiency, proficiency and accuracy in aeronautical decision making during flight planning, pre-

flight and in-flight real world situations.The goals of the competition are to cre-

ate an understanding of how pilots use their EFBs and identify what proficiency looks like; identify where improvements to tools or instruction are needed; and get more pi-lots to see and understand the benefits of flying with an EFB.

“The iPad has seen fast adoption by a large number of pilots and is the first tech-nology to achieve widescale use in aircraft spanning general, commercial and military aviation, new and old,” said Tom Haines, AOPA Editor in Chief and EFB Challenge sponsor. “Yet there is much we need to learn. What impact do these devices having

on flying? How does this help deal with an aging fleet? What improvements are needed with apps and training? We look forward to providing our input into this effort and see-ing the results.”

The first four contests will take place this week at SUN ’n FUN during MyGoFlight’s iPad Takes Flight — EFB Challenge forum sessions. All forums take place in the Cen-tral Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) in Room One. Forums are Tuesday at 12 p.m., Wednesday at 9 a.m., Friday at 12 p.m., and Saturday at 12 p.m. A set of questions will be asked to test the use of the iPad in planning, pre-flight and in-flight scenarios.Prizes will be provided by MyGoFlight and

Marv Golden Pilot Supplies.“We want to help pilots be able to see

what proficiency looks like and what to strive for,” said Charles Schneider, CEO of MyGoFlight. “We want to help instructors and app developers find ways to improve the level of use. Our goal is to minimize incidents such as runway incursions, land-ing at the wrong airport, taking off from the wrong runway, busting a clearance or not having the right chart — all of which could be reduced to near zero by pilots success-fully integrating the iPad into their flight deck and work flow.”

“Our goal is for pilots and their instruc-tors to incorporate the iPad as an EFB,” said Radek Wyrzykowski, president of IMC Club International. “It is important to estab-lish proficiency standards and to help build capabilities that go far beyond paper chart replacement — capabilities that will help pilots make better and faster decisions.”

If you would like to enter a contest, go to MyGoFlight.com/EFBChallenge and sign up for the EFB Challenge newsletter. You will be contacted as contests are scheduled. Flight schools, military and commercial op-erators are also welcome to create contests that can then compete on a regional level along with IMC Clubs.

You can find out more at MyGoFlight’s display in Hangar C, #48-50.

EFB Challenge launches this week

At this year’s show, Scheme Designers will host a scavenger hunt. Players will hunt for aircraft sporting Scheme Design-ers livery and a window sign indicating that the plane is part of the game. Whoever finds the most wins.

The folks at Scheme Designers aren’t saying how many aircraft will be included in the game, but will post clues on the com-pany’s Facebook page throughout the show. “Like” and follow the Scheme Designers Facebook page to receive notifications as they happen.

To narrow the field in the Scavenger Hunt, the competition will be limited to aircraft “within the fence” or on formal dis-play at SUN ’n FUN.

Players can pick up a scavenger hunt form at the Scheme Designers booth in Hangar A, #17, when they arrive, and should jot down the make, model and registration number for each display aircraft on which they find the Scheme Designers window sign.

Completed forms must be returned to the Scheme Designers booth by 4 p.m. Satur-day. Prizes will be awarded for entries cor-rectly identifying the highest number of display aircraft bearing the Scheme Design-ers window sign. Third prize is a Scheme Designers cap; second prize is a Scheme Designers polo shirt; and the grand prize is a custom premium desktop model worth more than $500.

Scavenger hunt begins


Arion Aircraft is introducing its new-est kit airplane, the Lightning XS, at this week’s show.

“The XS kit is all about choices,” com-pany officials said. “Our new airframe kit gives you the option of choosing your fire-wall forward package from three currently available. This gives you the opportunity to create the aircraft you have always dreamed of.” Choices include the Lycom-ing O-320, UL 390, and the Jabiru 3300.

Standard equipment includes spring steel gear, removable fuel tanks, short up-swept wingtips, MK II tails, and a rede-

signed lower gear assembly.And don’t worry if you liked the kit

the way it was. The company still offers that, now named the Lightning Classic. The Classic kit contains everything you need, but a propeller, avionics, interior and paint.

“You can build this kit to go fast or be Light-Sport compliant by choosing the ap-propriate options,” officials note. “If you already know you want the Jabiru engine, this is the way to go.”

See both aircraft yourself at the com-pany’s booth in Paradise City, #5.

Lightning XS debuts

CubCrafters is displaying a new top-of-the-line instrument panel at SUN ’n FUN in cooperation with Garmin, which is simul-taneously introducing its G3X Touch 10.6-inch touch-sensitive flight display system.

CubCrafters’ new panel, Executive GLASS touch, replaces the company’s previous high-end panel with an integrat-ed suite of Garmin’s cutting-edge instru-ments. Executive GLASS touch is avail-able immediately in CubCrafters Carbon Cub SS, Carbon Cub EX and Sport Cub S2 aircraft. You can see the new panel in CubCrafters’ Booth in the North Exhibit Area, #92-93.

Executive GLASS touch is centered on Garmin’s new G3X Touch flight display system, which includes the GDU 465 10.6-inch high-resolution touchscreen display. Along with the Garmin GTR 200 COMM and GTX 23 ES mode S transponder, the

system integrates each of Garmin’s instru-ments for a logical, intuitive pilot interface, CubCrafters officials say. The G3X Touch has Synthetic Vision and video input for cameras or Enhanced Vision Systems. The display layout is configurable and includes a front-loading SD card slot for software and database updates.

CubCrafters also includes Garmin’s An-gle-of-Attack (AOA) sensor and Sirius XM Satellite Radio weather and audio as stan-dard equipment on the Executive GLASS touch panel.

Executive GLASS touch is available as an option in CubCrafters’ ready-to-fly LSA aircraft for $24,990. Experimental Ama-teur Builders can purchase the panel for $27,990. Buyers may also upgrade the pan-el to include Garmin’s Dual-Axis Autopilot at $4,990, and Garmin GDL 39R ADS-B datalink at $2,100.

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Visiting the PILOT MALL Aviation Su-perstore at SUN ’n FUN for your 40th An-niversary souvenirs? Meet office “top dog” Bubba and take his picture to enter PILOT

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by JohN CUDAhY

No single American industry was as ad-versely impacted by last year’s sequestra-tion debacle as the air show business.

By the end of the 2013 season, more than 60 shows in the U.S. had cancelled as a di-rect result of the Pentagon’s withdrawal of all military support. Dozens of other shows experienced attendance drops of 60% and more.

Many communities throughout the coun-try were denied not just a weekend of en-tertainment, but the philanthropic contri-butions and local spending that normally

accompany the more than 300 shows that are conducted in the U.S. each year.

But early indica-tions are already pointing to a robust recovery for the air show business in 2014. Much — though not all — of the traditional military support has been restored. Crowd estimates at the industry’s first shows of the year have been unusually high. So far in the air show season, press

coverage has been extensive and positive. And the air show community’s enthusiasm and energy —largely absent during last year’s sequestration-induced deprivations — have returned.

For its part, the American military has determined that the interaction it has with the public at air shows is not just helpful, but essential. At a time when the 1% who wear our country’s military uniform have less and less contact with the other 99%, air shows provide all branches of the ser-vice — Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force — with an opportunity to remind citizens what they are doing on our collec-

tive behalf. In mid-March, the Air Force sent an F-35 Lightning II fighter — a state-of-the-art, fifth generation fighter that has struggled to maintain its political support — to an air show at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona to provide taxpayers with an up-close look at its investment in the future of America’s national security.

Within the air show community, the reac-tion to the deprivations of last season has been philosophical and deliberate. In an en-vironment where military support may now be less reliable, recent emphasis has been on the entertainment value offered by civil-ian performers. From warbirds and vintage aircraft to formation teams and wingwalk-ers to jet-powered sailplanes and civilian jet teams, air show pilots are responding to this potentially new environment by innovating, engaging and entertaining.

At the International Council of Air Shows annual convention last December in Las Vegas, veteran performer John Klatt introduced a jet-powered Waco biplane that relies on both a traditional piston-powered propeller AND a J85 jet engine to generate 3,000 pounds of thrust and some very un-usual flight capabilities. A number of shows are introducing World War II re-enactments within their events to feature warbird air-craft in a dramatic and entertaining setting.

Air show event organizers all over the country are reorganizing their shows to en-sure that they continue to offer world-class entertainment with or without contempo-rary military participation. And these sorts of innovations and new developments are likely to become more common this year and for many years to come.

And there is perhaps no better example of that than SUN ’n FUN this week in Lake-land. Long recognized as the first big fly-in event of the new flying season, SUN ’n FUN also has a well-deserved reputation as being one of the most innovative and entertaining shows in the country, featuring a high qual-ity, diverse schedule of performers. And the event’s large, enthusiastic crowds are a tes-tament to the drawing power of a show that features talented civilian air show pilots.

But, if the growing consensus within the air show community is that shows should remain compelling and entertaining even if the military does not participate, that’s not intended to suggest that the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Army are no lon-ger welcome. Far from it.

And SUN ’n FUN makes that point very well, too. This week’s show will include demonstrations by the U.S. Navy Blue An-gels and the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, two of the most perennially popular acts in the air show business.

Put a slightly different way, SUN ’n FUN would be a world-class event with no mili-tary participation. And, with the involve-ment of the Navy and Air Force, it’s even better — a model that more and more air shows are likely to emulate during the com-ing months and years.

John Cudahy is president of the International Council of Air Shows (airshows.aero)

Air shows: The new paradigm

John Cudahy

April 1-6 , 2014 Sun ’n Fun Today - www.sun-n-fun.org 15

By MEG GODLEWSKI

SUN ’n FUN Radio celebrates its 20th an-niversary this year.

What began as a means to broadcast the afternoon airshow has evolved into an in-formational and entertaining endeavor for not only fly-in visitors, but also the volun-teers at the radio station.

Located at 1510 on the AM dial, SUN ’n FUN Radio broadcasts a steady stream of interviews with performers, sponsors and

exhibitors, as well as special guests, in-cluding the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).

The station is located at the end of Club House Row next door to the Quiet Birdman Clubhouse and across the road from the Sunset Grill.

According to Dave Shallbetter, station chairman, SUN ’n FUN Radio began in 1994 when he worked at the SUN ’n FUN media center as the liaison with WLKS, the local AM radio station, which was broad-casting the airshow with a live remote.

“They told me they were going to have a radio station at SUN ’n FUN and asked would I like to help?” he recalled. “They put me at a desk and said ‘start talking.’ I said ‘I can do that!’”

The original intent of SUN ’n FUN Radio was to broadcast the daily airshow and have a tape loop with information about parking and admission. It quickly grew to include in-terviews with not just the airshow perform-ers, but exhibitors and others at the show.

In 2007 the radio station teamed with Uncontrolled Airspace, a general aviation podcast, and Live ATC, an audio stream-ing site, which gave the station worldwide exposure.

“That started our foray into the social media world,” said Shallbetter. “We also

started a Twitter account. Social media has hugely increased the exposure of SUN ’n FUN Radio. We have listeners in Brazil, Germany, and Okinawa, Japan. By 2008 the audio stream had 44,000 hits.”

To celebrate SUN ’n FUN Radio’s 20th

anniversary, the volunteers, with the help of sponsors, have created a birthday gift pro-gram, where the gift goes to the visitors.

This year each gift donor will receive

multiple mentions on the day of their spon-sorship and a week-long association with the station’s celebration.

Additionally, some lucky listeners will win tickets to the SUN ’n FUN Radio birth-day party slated for Thursday evening.

The station, which has a cadre of 30 or so volunteers, is always looking for more help. If you are interested in volunteering, stop in at SUN ’n FUN Radio during the week.

SUN ’n FUN Radio celebrates 20 years

There’s TV tooThe Florida Aviation Network (FAN)

has been named the official SUN ’n FUN TV Network.

It will be broadcasting throughout the week and providing live webcasts during the airshows.

Visit the Airshow Announcers stand and get the chance to be one of the “man on the street” interviews. You could be on a Jumbotron by the Sunset Grill and also uploaded to FAN’s website.

FAN will be all over the grounds filming at significant events and the footage will be uploaded daily.

FloridaAviationNetwork.com

16 SUN ’n FUN Today - www.sun-n-fun.org April 1-6 , 2014

The United States Navy’s Flight Demon-stration Squadron, The Blue Angels, will be the featured performers this weekend.

“After a year of sequestration and no military participation at airshows, SUN ’n FUN is honored to host the first appear-ance of the Blue Angels in the southeast in 2014,” said SUN ’n FUN President and CEO John R. “Lites” Leenhouts. “It is ex-citing for us to offer our guests the stellar precision that represents the piloting skills of all Naval aviators.”

The Blue Angels’ mission is to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting efforts and to represent the Naval service not only in the United States, but around the world.

The Blue Angels’ C-130, affectionately known as “Fat Albert,” begins each dem-onstration by exhibiting its maximum per-formance capabilities during a 10-minute performance.

Next you will see the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the four-jet Diamond Forma-tion, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of its two solo pilots. Finally, the team illustrates the pin-nacle of precision flying, performing ma-neuvers locked as a unit in the renowned, six-jet “Delta Formation.”

The Blue Angels will perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

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The F-22 Raptor is flying at SUN ’n FUN Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Air Combat Command F-22 Dem-onstration Team from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia performs precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capa-bilities of the world’s only operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

The F-22 will also team up with the Air Force Heritage flight during this week’s show.

The F-22 Raptor is the Air Force’s new-est fighter aircraft. Its combination of

stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities, according to Air Force officials.

The F-22, a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force, “cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft,” Air Force officials noted.

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SUN ’n FUN has made a commitment to the future, with its mission to “Build a Brighter Future through Aviation.”

In that vein, SUN ’n FUN is offering expanded educational opportunities and youth activities not just this week, but all year round.

For those at the fly-in, daily activities be-gin at 9 a.m. at the Piedmont Hangar Work-shops (just past the Florida Air Museum). Activities, which will run until 2 p.m., are age specific.

Children in Grades K-6 will be introduced to the creative side of science, with en-couragement and supplies to explore kites, windsocks, parachutes, foam airplanes and paper airplanes or experience an art project on paper or their face.

Kids in Grades 7-12 will have the op-portunity to work with engines, electrical circuits, motors, weather, wave forms, and rocketry and even try a flight simulator.

Volunteers also will offer kids tours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The interactive walking tour may include flying aircraft demonstra-

tions, antique aircraft, forums, rotorcraft, ultralight and light-sport airplanes, histor-ic warbird airplanes, a museum visit, and more.

The Florida Air Museum also will be open, and officials invite kids to explore the exhibitors and authors on site, as well as the interactive learning devices like wind tunnels and weather stations that have been donated for use and will be added to the new science center scheduled for comple-tion this year.

Also returning this year is the Kid Zone, near the front entrance, which is packed with aviation-themed activities.

Be aware that tickets for the Kid Zone are required. Ticket prices start at 26 tickets for $20, with 60 tickets for $40. An all-day pass to ride the inflatables is $20.

It takes 10 tickets to ride the zip line, and five to try the rock wall. Inflatables, includ-ing the Space Shuttle Slide, Bounce House, Jolly Jumping Jet, Space Camp Combo, Wall E 3-1, and the Obstacle Course, are two tickets each.

Building a brighter future

After its success at last year’s show, the Veterans Plaza is once again in the South-east Exhibit Area.

Organizations participating in the plaza this year include the Vietnam Veterans He-licopter Pilots Association, the USO, the Military Officers Association of America, Honor Flight, World War II re-enactors, the VA Medical Unit, the Mid Florida World War II Museum, and the Polk County Vet-erans Council.

Several aircraft will be on display and members and officials with the organiza-tions are available to answer any questions.

Also located in Veterans Plaza is an in-formal area for veterans and active-duty military to meet up, share stories and enjoy the fly-in.

Veterans Plaza returns


More than 8,000 international guests ar-rived at SUN ’n FUN last year from coun-tries spanning the globe.

According to SUN ’n FUN officials, the largest number of visitors came from Bra-zil, Canada, England and Germany, but many other countries were represented in the International Visitors Tent, which is in the Southeast Exhibit area. The tent fea-tures a large map where visitors can stick a pin representing their home country.

A number of volunteers are available who speak a variety of languages to help visitors with everything from locating an exhibitor on the grounds to finding local lodgings.

Staff from Visit Central Florida and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce will aug-ment the SUN ’n FUN crew by connecting guests to local area amenities, shopping and dining. Discount tickets for area theme parks are also available at the tent.

Tickets will also be distributed at the tent for special events planned for international visitors.

New this year is a party for future avia-tors called Dance Around the World.

Teens 13-18 will gather on Thursday eve-ning at 7 p.m. in front of the International Visitors Tent, where they will find music, foods, photos and more. Hosted by State Farm Agent Barbara Grier Bennett, Pure Funk DJ Leslie, and Will Brown Photogra-

phy, the party will feature food from some of Lakeland’s finest restaurants, including Harry’s Seafood Restaurant, Palace Pizza, China Wok, Sweet Creationz, Britt’s Café,

Café Roti, West Caribbean Cuban Restau-rant and Il Forno Italian Restaurant.

The International Visitors Party will be held Friday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., in the

Pavilion next to the Florida Air Museum. This party is hosted by the Islands of the Bahamas and the Lakeland Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Welcoming the world

SHOW SPECIALGeneral Aviation News isn’t exhibiting

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66th Year. No. 6

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Pleading the Fifth P.39



The Luscombe List


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$2.95 • February 20, 2014

66th year. No. 4

What’s your favorite airshow? P. 23

Mooney back in business P. 4

Tips to shop smarter P. 12

The Cinderella hangar P. 24

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Got a question about this week’s activi-ties? Here’s a few things that may be help-ful to know:

SUN ’n FUN retail outlets are open dai-ly with a large selection of aviation-related items, as well sunglasses, cameras and 40th anniversary commemorative T-shirts and other memorabilia. The main retail shop is the PilotMall store near the Exhibit Han-gars. There are also Gifts of Flight outlets in front of the Sunset Grill, on the east side of the Airshow Announcer Stand, south-west side of the Warbird ramp, and in the The Florida Air Museum.

The Type Club Tent is located across the taxiway from Vintage Headquarters. Look for members of organized clubs dedicated to a particular aircraft.

Stop in at the Visitors Information Center next to the Sunset Grill to pick up a copy of the Shuttle Map to accommoda-tions, downtown Lakeland and the sur-rounding area. Preston Tours is providing bus transportation for SUN ’n FUN guests to local area hotels and restaurants for a fee. Shuttle pick up and drop off is in the Lind-bergh Lot.

There are two Internet Cafes on the grounds this year: At the Visitor Informa-tion Center and the Florida Air Museum.

You also can get wireless access for $12 a day or $30 for the week. You can purchase

on your browser landing page or at the main entrance.

To receive text updates on SUN ’n FUN events, text 69050 and type snfupdate. To receive text updates on SUN ’n FUN alerts, text 69050 and type snfalert.

The FedEx 727, donated last year, will be open every day for walk-through tours. The 727 is near the Central Florida Aero-space Academy.

Smoking is not permitted around any air-craft, on the flightline, in the buildings, or near any displayed aircraft. See the conven-tion map (page 22) for designated smoking areas around the campus.

Aircraft Emergency Repair is available from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. It is located on Taxiway Echo.

Handicapped Services, located on the west side of the Admissions building in the Main Admissions area, has information on all accessibility concerns.

The Lost and Found is located in the Volunteer Center east of the Buehler Res-toration Center.

The Brokaw Medical Hospitality Cen-ter is located across from Main Admissions and east of the Buehler Restoration Skills Center on Doolittle Road.

Trams run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with stops throughout the campus.

The Pilot Briefing Center has informa-

tion on everything from taxi procedures, field opening and closing schedules, avail-ability of tie-downs, demonstration ride staging, and radio frequencies. It is next to the showers by Vintage Headquarters.

Several self-briefing weather stations provided by XM WX Satellite Weather are available for pilots. Check the map on page 22 for exact locations.

Need a slight break from all the activity? The Nature Trail behind Hangar E has 16 stations located along the boardwalk detail-ing the Florida flora and fauna.

Having so much fun you’d like to return next year as a volunteer? Volunteer oppor-tunities are available at the Volunteer Cen-ter, which is located next to the Buehler Restoration Center.

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The Recreational Aviation Foundation will host a variety of activities all week at the Fire Hub in the SUN ’n FUN Camp-ground, including:

Tent Rodeo: How fast can you put up a • tent?Ice Cream Toss: Make ice cream in the • backcountry.Potato Bake: Thursday, April 3, for new • and renewing RAF members.Fly fishing demos.• Plane-packing demos.• Coffee and Donuts (6:30-8 a.m.) each • morning.

The Recreational Aviation Foundation Fire Hub is on the corner of Poberezny Road and Charlie Road in the campground.

RAF: Time for some fun

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Hone skills at SUN ’n FUN Workshops

SUN ’n FUN Workshops can help you learn all the skills neces-sary to build your own plane or work on any other project that uses the same tools and techniques.

Experienced instructors guide you through the techniques for each skill and answer your questions about specific projects.

Many of the workshops are approved by the FAA for credit to-wards the annual requirements for IA renewal and the A&P Awards Program. To get credit for attending, pick up a time sheet at the information booth and have the Workshop Instructor sign it.

Workshops are ongoing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Workshops area, which is near the Buehler Restoration Center and the Florida Air Museum.

Workshops are held on everything from Engines, Aircraft Wood-work, Avionics/Electrical, Basic Sheet Metal, Cable Swaging, Com-posites, Computer Workshop (flight planning to GPS navigation to computer-aided design), Fabric Covering, Metal Shaping, Propeller Carving, and Welding.



Come to Kissimmee Gateway Airport for the ultimate in aviation history thrills. Check out our warbird museum, then take off in a P-51 Mustang or T-6 Texan for a real, live adventure flight. If you’d like to see the sights, climb into our open cockpit biplane for spectacular views of Orlando.

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Find out at www.kissimmeeairport.com/rec.htm

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The annual Splash-In will be held Thurs-day, April 3, at Fantasy of Flight, just up Interstate 4 in Polk City.

Lake Agnes will be the scene for this “fly-in within a fly-in.”

If the spectacle of water takeoffs and landings were not enough, you’ll be treat-ed to competition flying, including water-bombing and spot landings.

The Splash-In site will be operational Wednesday through Friday.

Camping is available at the site, with SUN ’n FUN officials noting that camping permits are valid at both Fantasy of Flight and SUN ’n FUN, allowing you to travel between the two facilities during the week.

If you are driving to the Splash-In, park-ing is $5 per vehicle for SUN ’n FUN guests with credentials.

A better way to get there on the day of the Splash-In may be the shuttles. Shuttle pickup and drop off is located at the Sea-bird’s tent located in the seaplane parking area at SUN ’n FUN on the airfield. The shuttle schedule will be based on demand. Fare is $3 each way.

On Thursday morning, the seaplanes will do a fly-by of the SUN ’n FUN grounds around 10:30 a.m. For those pilots who would like to participate in the fly-by, a mandatory briefing is slated for 9 a.m. at Lake Agnes (FOF).

The Splash-In Competition will begin af-ter the fly-by. Again, those pilots who would like to participate must attend all briefings.

The day will wrap up with the Seabird Banquet, which kicks off at 6 p.m. with a so-cial hour, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The dinner will be held at Fantasy of Flight.

Safety notesNo landings are permitted on Fantasy of • Flight’s grass strip;Use of a radio is required to operate at • the Splash-In;No fuel is available at Lake Agnes;• Seaplane base coordinates: N28 10.144 • W81 48.804;Lake Agnes seaplane base and harbor-• master frequency is 119.125;Use left pattern landing to the north, use • right pattern landing to the south. Pattern altitude is 700 msl;Please land and takeoff at least 500 feet • off shore and away from shoreline ac-tivities;After landing slow taxi back to the beach • on the eastside of Lake Agnes;You may taxi out of the water and park • on the beach;Upon arrival, go to the registration/hos-• pitality tent for registration and pilot briefing.All schedules are subject to change.•

Who needs a runway?

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The annual Balloon Launch is slated for Saturday, April 5, but if you want to see it, you’ll have to get up early.

Starting at 6:30 a.m., a number of hot air balloons will be inflated and then launched in a traditional “Hare and Hound” race.

As the name suggests, this event involves chasing a single balloon after it takes off. This balloon acts as the “hare” and floats in the air for a short while before the other bal-loons are allowed to take off. The balloons that follow are the “hounds,” and the win-ning balloon is the one who lands closest to the “hare.”

All of this is weather dependent, but even if the balloons can’t launch, they still inflate — a site to behold in and of itself.

Pilots participating in the balloon launch are part of a unique group of seasoned air-show veterans from around the world. Hot air balloon pilots carry an FAA-issued pi-lot’s license in the “Lighter than Air” Cat-egory. In addition to passing the traditional written tests, they are trained in balloon me-chanics, safety, procedures, and the unique flight characteristics of balloons.

Other balloon events this week include limited daily demonstration flights from Paradise City by commercial firms, usu-ally at 7 a.m. Balloons also will inflate for a “Balloon Glow” during the night airshow on Saturday.

Balloons to grace skies over Lakeland

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This week the Experimental Aircraft As-sociation’s 1929 Ford Tri-Motor will be at SUN ’n FUN to celebrate the Golden Age of Aviation. Visitors will get a chance to experience flight aboard the world’s first mass-produced commercial airliner — and every passenger gets a window seat.

Also known as the “Tin Goose,” the Ford Tri-Motor was built by the Ford Motor Co. in the late 1920s.

This living legacy of modern air travel has an intriguing history linked to South Florida, according to SUN ’n FUN offi-cials. It was purchased by Pitcairn Airways, which flew it up and down the east coast of the United States in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Eastern Airways, the forerunner of Eastern Airlines, subsequently purchased

Pitcairn Airways. In the mid-1930s, the air-plane was sold to a Cuban airline, Compa-ñía Nacional Cubana de Aviación.

In the 1940s, the airplane was flown in Idaho and Montana, transporting smoke jumpers who fought forest fires. At that time, the large 450-horsepower engines were installed. In the 1960s, the airplane was part of an operation that flew around the country, offering rides to the public.

In 1973, the airplane was at a tour stop at Burlington, Wis., when a thunderstorm squall line moved through the area. Either a tornado or a very large thunderstorm lift-ed the airplane 30 feet in the air and then dropped it to the ground, according to EAA officials. The airplane, which broke into three pieces, was considered a total loss.

EAA purchased the Tri-Motor from an insurance company shortly afterward and began the long process of restoring it. The 12-year restoration was completed in 1985. For the next six years, the Tri-Motor was on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, and was only flown occasionally. In 1991, the airplane began regular passen-ger flights once more, based from the mu-seum’s Pioneer Airport.

While at SUN ’n FUN, students from the Central Florida Aerospace Academy and the Breezer Flight School will be the work-ing crew for the Ford Tri-Motor.

Rides will be offered from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and

5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

Ticket prices are $75 for adults and $50 for children 17 and under.

The Parts Exchange, located in Hangar E, is a popular destination for everyone from homebuilders and restorers to the owners of

certified aircraft. Each year during SUN ’n FUN, thousands of items are consigned by their owners to sell in the Parts Exchange,

from avionics, props, wings, and a host of other parts and components.

If you’re looking to sell items during the

show, you can purchase tags for 50 cents each. The tag must be secured to the item.

Tires and batteries cannot be accepted for sale due to Florida law, according to Parts Exchange volunteers. Tires mounted on air-craft wheel assemblies will be accepted if described as such on the tag.

Volunteers also note that cash is the pre-ferred method of payment as no credit cards or checks are accepted. ATM machines are located on the grounds, they add.

The Parts Exchange will be open daily during the show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ex-cept Sunday, when all sales stop at noon.

The Parts Exchange tent will be open for consignors only on Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. to claim unsold items. The tent will close promptly at 5 p.m. and any unclaimed items will become donations to SUN ’n FUN, volunteers add.

Experience the Golden Age of Aviation

Need a part? Got something to sell?

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EAA

SpecificationsLength: 49 feet, 10 inches• Height: 12 feet, 8 inches• Wing Span: 74 feet • Gross Weight: 10,130 pounds• Maximum Speed: 132 mph• Cruising Speed: 112 mph• Engines: 3 Pratt & Whitney 985s• Horsepower (per engine): 450• Original Factory Cost: $42,000•

Do some good while you are enjoying the show

The BloodNet.net Blood Bank will be onsite all week in the Southeast Ex-hibits area.

See us at SUN ’n FUN 2013 - Booth D061


By MEG GODLEWSKI

The crowds on the flightline are expected to be bigger this year due to the appearance of the Blue Angels. While this means more people will see your pride and joy, it also can put your airplane at greater risk for in-advertent damage.

Although you can’t be there all the time, there are some things you can do to protect your airplane when you aren’t around.

“Do not touch” placards are a must. These are provided for display aircraft when you register. These cardboard sleeves slip over the propeller.

Verify the security of your aircraft tie-downs. If you use single stakes, insert them into the ground at a diagonal. A stake insert-ed on a diagonal takes more force to lift out of the ground than one driven straight into the ground. You may want to invest in the “claw” type of aircraft tie-down. Instead of a single stake in the ground, there are three at different angles. As the name implies, it resembles a claw when used properly. Ac-cording to pilots who use them, they are easier to install and remove, yet provide sturdier protection than the one-stake vari-eties.

Make sure gust locks are installed cor-rectly.

Do not leave anything near your airplane that can be thrown, such as a football or a Frisbee, a model glider or even extra tie-down stakes. Also don’t leave any cleaning products that have a spray trigger around. One unsupervised kid is all it takes to do damage. Put these items out of sight.

Be careful of the position of your propel-ler. In camping areas experienced campers recommended that you turn the propeller so the blades are vertical. Someone walking between rows at night is less likely to hit the blade.

In adverse weather, such as high winds, do not try to “save your airplane.” If the wind is blowing hard enough, the plane

could flip over and land on you. The aircraft can be replaced. You can’t.

Supervise the refueling of your aircraft.Take all the expensive portable items,

such as yoke-mounted GPS and headsets, out of your cockpit. Either lock them up or hide them well. Although most people are honest, there are some folks who see large events as an opportunity to steal.

Taxi a little bit slower than you would normally, especially if there are lots of people around. Some of them may be avia-tion novices and may walk with their backs to the aircraft or on taxiways instead of on footpaths, and could step into the line of a wing.

Protect your plane

Net proceeds of approximately $1 million a year from SUN ’n FUN events and facil-ity rentals, benefactors, sponsors, exhibi-tors, advertisers and attendees are returned by SUN ’n FUN to the community through education programs.

SUN ’n FUN benefactors built the Cen-tral Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA). Open since 2008, the school currently maintains a 100% graduation rate.

Polk State College offers dual enrollment at CFAA and students earning an A&P cer-tificate can be recruited by Florida theme parks because they have achieved the high-est level of mechanical skills.

All students in Polk County maintain-ing a 2.75 GPA are eligible for a 75% cash scholarship towards the cost of flight les-sons from the James C. Ray Foundation. If the student is unable to cover the remaining 25% of the flight lesson costs, he or she can contribute volunteer hours on the SUN ’n FUN complex in exchange for that amount. An additional scholarship providing fund-ing towards four years of college for stu-dents in Polk County from the James C. Ray Foundation is also available.

Lakeland AeroClub students, ranging in age from 16-19, piloted planes inde-pendently from Lakeland to Oshkosh in 2013 and performed in the air showcase at EAA AirVenture, the largest airshow in the world.

Students at CFAA are restoring a 1952 Piper J-3 Cub and will fly it in this year’s event.

SUN ’n FUN hosts summer camps where students between the ages of 11 and 18 fly a plane on the fourth day of a week-long aviation experience. Younger students are introduced to age-specific activities in preparation for the flight in their future.

Aerospace Educator Workshops are available throughout the year for in-service and professional development. One will be held Saturday of this year’s event.

The Florida Air Museum is being trans-formed into a Discovery Center with inter-active exhibits, including an F/A-18 sim.

SUN ’n FUNfast facts

05


By JANICE WOOD

You are justifiably proud of your aircraft, but is it an award winner?

You can find out this week.“It is quite an honor to be recognized

at SUN ’n FUN,” said John “Lites” Leen-houts, SUN ’n FUN president.

He notes the SUN ’n FUN judges are highly experienced and professional, fol-lowing standards set by the Experimental Aircraft Association. “Our judging program is identical to theirs,” he added.

It’s easy to enter your aircraft. When you registered at arrival, you may have been given a Judging Registration Form. The sticker on the registration alerts the judges to include your aircraft in the process.

There is no charge to register for judging, according to Leonard Kress, chief judge at SUN ’n FUN.

Didn’t register when you arrived? No worries. You can register up until noon on Friday.

Kress recommends that you put your cell phone number on the registration form, as well as any special requests, including whether you want to be present when the judges look at your plane.

“The judges will call you and make ev-ery effort to coordinate a time to meet at

your airplane,” Kress said. “We love to give awards to deserving airplanes. Make us happy. Register your pride and joy to be judged.”

But what are the judges looking for?“Our judges are judging the aircraft based

on their experience as aircraft builders, re-storers and aircraft maintenance technicians as to what constitutes quality, authenticity and safety,” Kress said. “Rest assured that all the judges are veterans in their respec-tive areas.”

Awards are handed out in a variety of

categories, ranging from ultralight to an-tique, classic, light-sport aircraft, seaplane, and more. New in the last few years are the People’s Choice Awards.

Convinced and ready to find out if your plane is a winner?

Kress offers these tips to help you in-crease your chances of becoming an award winner: “Be there when it is judged. Be pre-pared to explain questionable areas. Make sure that it is clean. Have the aircraft opened up so the judges can see all the aircraft’s qualities. Have presentation documenta-

tion, such as pictures, aircraft paperwork, etc. Have proof of authenticity, if it ap-plies. Old airplanes may have many mods. In many cases, we are looking for aircraft as they came out of the factory when they were built. Authenticity is King.”

And for those owners who plan to fly their aircraft to AirVenture this summer and enter it for judging there, Leenhouts gives them this advice: “Come here first and put it through the judging process,” he said. “You may discover areas that need to be fixed be-fore you head to AirVenture.”

Is your plane an award winner?

This 1929 Stearman owned by Sarah Wilson won last year’s Grand Champion Antique.

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exploreyourlimits

luca bertossio

world aerobatics champion

and peak performer

enthusiast

performance is my challenge Every spot I see in the clouds reminds me of my mad own story, when my

passion for gliding through the air began. At the age of eleven, I decided to become an aviator, because my biggest wish was to spend more time

with my dad, who had to do a lot of business travelling – a lot of it by plane. I learned and practised to get the glider licence. From those days on, I was

hooked and inspired to try out ever-more exceptional and daring manoeuvres.

Today – at the age of 24 – I am very lucky to be the current World Aerobatic Gliding Champion and can live out my dreams as I hover in the sky.

The S10 has allowed me to discover another powerful way of fl oating through the thermal circuits; ambitious piloting, comfortable cruising and - by no means

least - a very long gliding time in the air. What a strong elegant bird!

Luca will be at Sun ‚n Fun in person to talk about his fascination for high-performance gliding with the

Stemme Peak Performer S10.

The complete background story and videos of Luca with the S10: http://lucabertossio.stemme.aero

performanceforpassion


by Meg goDleWSKI

You may not know it, but commercial aviation began in Florida 100 years ago with a 23-minute flight across Tampa Bay.

Pilot Tony Jannus of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line had just one paying passenger, the mayor of St. Petersburg, who sat next to him in the open cockpit Benoist XIV flying boat.

To celebrate that historic event, SUN ’n FUN has invited the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Ford Tri-Motor to give rides all week.

“This airplane launched Eastern Air-lines,” said Cody Welch, an EAA board member and chairman of the Ford Tri-Mo-tor program.

Welch is a retired Northwest Airlines captain with more than 22 years in the Tri-Motor. The airplane travels across the coun-try to introduce people to the aviation and the EAA by giving short rides.

“We are in the smile business,” Welch said. “I have never seen anyone get off the airplane who wasn’t smiling.”

The airplane, often referred to as the “Tin Goose,” attracts crowds wherever it goes. Passengers run the gamut from families with small children to grandparents who perhaps flew on one way back when.

According to Welch, many of the passen-gers have a keen interest in the history of the airplane and its design.

“It is made of metal and has fixed gear. It has three engines — just for pure vanity — it will fly on two,” he said, explaining that when the Tri-Motor was created Americans were still apprehensive about air travel. “Knute Rockne was killed in the crash of a Fokker when a wooden wing spar failed. That got everyone’s attention, so Henry Ford decided to build the Tri-Motor out of metal and give it that extra engine. Ford was going to reliability.”

This particular airplane rolled out of Ford’s factory in August 1929. Back then, there were no airports as we known them today, but 40-acre fields. Paved runways would come later.

“Henry Ford had a vision,” Welch con-tinued. “He thought commercial air travel would really take off, so to speak, because it would lessen differences between people because it would shorten the distances be-tween them. This airplane gave birth an in-dustry.”

The Tri-Motor can be safely flown by one pilot. There are nine captains who take turns flying the airplane. All of them have thousands of hours of experience.

“In the Tri-Motor we usually don’t count

the hours we put on it,” said Welch. “We count the landings, because giving rides we are up and down all the time. I have about 5,500 landings in this aircraft.”

“Landings can be challenging, because the airplane has multiple personalities,” he explained. “Some days it flies like it is a 747, other days it thinks it is a Cub.”

The interior of the Tri-Motor surprises most people because, by modern standards, it is very spacious. The windows are wide. The Tri-Motor is non-pressurized and flies at an altitude of 1,000 AGL during the short rides.

The Tri-Motor is one of the most popular

attractions at the AirVenture, said Welch, and he anticipates a similar reaction at SUN ’n FUN.

“We get people from all over the world who come to Oshkosh and the first thing they do is take a ride on the Tri-Motor!” he crowed.

During SUN ’n FUN the flights will stage from the west entrance to the Warbird Ramp. Each flight costs $75 and last for about 10 minutes.

SUN ’n FUN also will have a “Meet Tony Jannus” program from 10 a.m. to noon to-day at the Buehler Restoration Center to commemorate the anniversary.

Celebrating 100 years of commercial flying

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On opening day of SUN ’n FUN, Har-man’s AKG introduced the AV100 aviation headset, the Austria-based company’s first product designed for pilots.

Aimed at professional and private gener-al aviation pilots, the AV100 was developed in collaboration with pilot Hannes Arch, a member of the Red Bull Air Race Team and Red Bull Air Race World Series champion.

“When AKG approached me to collabo-rate on their first aviation headset, I was to-tally confident that we could create the best product of its kind,” said Arch. “By com-bining my piloting experience with AKG’s more than 65 years of experience in acous-tical design, I am confident we have set a new standard for aviation headsets.”

The AKG AV100 employs AKG-devel-oped active hybrid noise-cancelling tech-nology and signal processing that is cali-brated to attenuate the specific frequencies heard inside an airplane cockpit, creating a quiet listening environment, company offi-cials explained.

The headset has a built-in microphone and boom that can be used on either the left or right side. It also has built-in LED map lights on each ear cup that provide il-lumination during night flights or added visibility in cockpits with dim lighting. Its cable-mounted control unit offers Bluetooth

connectivity and an AUX input, to enable wireless or wired interfacing with naviga-tion devices, tablet PCs, phones or other de-vices. An adjustable automatic input switch lets the wearer set his or her audio prefer-

ences so that intercom messages take prece-dence over other listening. The headset has a 6-pin LEMO connector and a standard dual-pin airline adapter is included.

The AKG AV100 comes with a carry bag

with enough spare space for sunglasses, navigation devices, a tablet device and more, company officials note.

See the headset for yourself at Harman AKG’s booth in Hangar B, Spaces 28-29.

Harman’s AKG enters the aviation market

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performanceforpassion

full control at your fi ngertips in thepeak performer

Learn more about the Stemme Peak Performer

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by Meg goDleWSKI

There is something about aviation that brings out the competitor in all of us. Red-bird Flight Simulations and a cadre of spon-sors, including Flying Magazine, Jeppesen and ForeFlight, have thrown down the vir-tual Gauntlet of Challenge to those who want show they have the right stuff through the Flying Challenge Cup. The Challenge is a series of computer-based scenarios flown in a full-motion Redbird Flight Simulator. The challenge begins today in the Redbird exhibit tent across from the FAA building.

There are three levels of competition: Licensed pilot., student pilot, and everyone else. The challenges come from basic stick and rudder skills pilots should know and are tested on during the acquisition of their pi-lot certificates, such as precision landings, steep turns and Lazy Eights. Each maneu-ver is scored using the criteria contained in the Practical Test Standards.

Participants begin by registering at the website Flyingchallenge.com. Once regis-tered, you are issued a five-digit PIN. The PIN interfaces with a USB headset.

“The purpose of the challenge is to en-courage pilots to increase their proficien-cy,” said Jeff VanWest, director of Redbird Media.

“The challenges are interactive,” he con-tinued. “You get feedback from the simu-lator, so for steep turns, for example, you might hear ‘more power, increase the bank angle,’ and so forth.”

This means that instead of having an in-structor sitting next to you, the simulator will tell you what to do to improve your score. The USB also records the partici-pant’s score.

“The software that makes this possible is being installed in Redbird full-motion simulators around the world,” he said, not-ing the challenges are set to go live today, which means that people around the world will be able to compete, even if they can’t make it to SUN ’n FUN. You can compete anywhere. When you log into the sim, you are logging into your personal account. Your account follows you around the world.”

Each session begins with a short video. The challenges are scored and saved in the virtual world. During SUN ’n FUN people are invited to come back to try to improve their scores. The use of the simulator at SUN ’n FUN is free.

The use of the Redbird simulator at most flight schools usually costs upwards of $75 an hour. Realizing that the cost might deter some people from participating, the Flying Challenge registration site includes a cou-pon so the first 30 minutes in the sim is just $15. A Google map helps participants find a full-motion Redbird flight simulator that is closest to them.

VanWest noted that since flight schools around the world are participating in the event, all the pilot has to do is pay for the simulator time and bring in his or her PIN to access the interactive program.

SUN ’n FUN is just the beginning, said VanWest.

“We are working with schools around the world to set up local challenge events,” he noted.

The Challenge ends in July at AirVenture. The 12 people who have the highest scores will get a free trip to AirVenture to compete live for the actual Flying Challenge Cup.

FlyingChallenge.com

Flying Challenge takes off this week

Find the redbird Simulator across from the FAA building.

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Classifieds

FAA controllers reading, “We are here to help you – or else!”

The SUN ’n FUN grounds were recon-figured innumerable times. New buildings sprang up as the show grew exponentially. Four vendor hangars were erected one at a time through 1990, a fifth more recently. The FAA building arose in 1996. Clubhouse Row along Longcoy Creek was created in the 1990s by relocating the OX-5 and Quiet Birdmen buildings, later joined by Silver Wings, the 99s and EAA. More recently, SUN ’n FUN Radio was added to this line-up, abandoning its former trailer. The radio station also celebrates a milestone anniver-sary this year: 20 years.

Education was an objective enumerated in SUN ’n FUN’s first official document. Many believe an early 1970s EAA chapter project, restoration of Matty Laird’s Su-per Solution race plane, began the march towards today’s museum, education and youth programs.

Beginning around 1982, a SUN ’n FUN Museum took shape in Hangar A. A chari-table foundation was created in 1986 for further development. The dedicated mu-seum building opened in 1992 as the Inter-national Sport Aviation Museum. An early coup was its acquisition of the Howard Hughes aviation memorabilia collection in 1996. The adjacent outdoor amphitheater,

known by all as the Pavilion, was ready for the 2000 fly-in.

Emphasis on education was pushed fur-ther into the 21st Century by astronaut Greg Harbaugh, a SUN ’n FUN vice presi-dent through 2006. Harbaugh’s long-range education plan would “drive SUN ’n FUN into the future,” beginning with the inspired work of Barbara Walters Phillips.

Stunning advances then and later — from the Tom Davis Education Center to the three-story Central Florida Aerospace Academy — have made those words an un-derstatement.

SUN ’n FUN’s institutions — its events, innovations and personalities — make SUN ’n FUN what it is. The Corn Roast has prevailed since the first fly-in, for years so appropriately facilitated by volunteer Ralph Cobb. An early volunteer-built building (of

so many) is the iconic “Little House on the Prairie,” now demoted from flightline fix-ture to camping area registration. The daily luncheons and after-show Groundloop (now Tail-Dragger) Party still soothe tired volunteers. Early Bird volunteers are now supplemented by Yearly Birds” who work unpaid year-round.

Even the crummy jobs took on cache. Fred Varn, known around here as “Mean ‘Ol Fred,” put panache into his role enforc-ing SUN ’n FUN’s camping rules on the ev-er-increasing numbers of volunteers. Those doing unenviable “beautification work” — read trash collection — developed an esprit de corps of their own as “Rena’s Refuse Raiders” boasting prestigious “Trashcan Wings.” Even a courtroom judge from up North became a Refuse Raider, observing, “My God, if you can make people proud to pick up garbage, you’ve got something go-ing!”

There were many marriages among the staff and volunteer corps. SUN ’n FUN’s first paid employee, Wynn Dias, became Mrs. Ralph Nobriga. Bonnie Boyte became Bonnie Perkins, as well as the first chief of merchandising and later heading com-mercial vendor exhibits. They were many

women in key roles, including long-timers Pat Quinn, Jo Thompson, Donna Bartlett Nattrass, Diane Smith, Sandy Spanier and Ann McKee.

Change and challenge have been con-stants over these 40 years. Billy Henderson retired from SUN ’n FUN in 2000. New ex-ecutive director (later, president and CEO) John Burton promoted a period of great growth, but had to handle SUN ’n FUN’s disastrous 2011 tornado. Current president John “Lites” Leenhouts has since charted a new, visionary course emphasizing educa-tion and the year-round activities.

Throughout, SUN ’n FUN progressed be-cause of the devotion, innovation and plain hard work of true believers too numerous to honor here by name.

As Bob Hoover recently said, “Many things around the world have changed, and aviation with them...but it’s great to know that we pilots will always have a place like SUN ’n FUN to call home.”

Derived from Karl “Bud” Davidson’s new book, “Unfreeze Your Bird – The History of SUN ’n FUN,” available at the PILOT MALL Aviation Superstore and official SUN ’n FUN merchandise tents.

The old sign inviting people to come to the fly-in.

A photo from the very first SUN ’n FUN Fly-in.

40 YeArS | From Page 6

bud Davidson, the author of Unfreeze Your bird, the story of SUN ’n FUN.

We’d love your help to showcase all the great airplanes and events hap-pening at SUN ’n FUN this year.

Text photos from your smart phone to (253) 228-1634 or bring your camera to the SUN ’n FUN Today trailer near the Cessna display. We will download your photos from your camera and then we’ll put the best photos in the next day’s paper.

Not every picture will make the pa-per, so bring us your best and get that instant gratification of seeing your name and your great photo in the next day’s paper.

Calling all photographers

1996 GlaStar. 1280-TTAE, Lycoming O-320, Hartzell CS Prop., Electronic Ignition, S-TEC A/P, day/night VFR, 130-kt cruise. $55,000. 760-702-6564, [email protected].

Call (800) 426-8538 now to place your classified ad in tomorrow’s paper.

Deadline 2 p.m. EST.

Bellanca - 1650

1971 BELLANCA SUPER VIKING, excellent condition, hangared, Cont 520K, AF&eng 2300 hours, no damage, $38,000, 727-457-3971, [email protected]

Cessna 150 - 1904

150M, RESTORATION begun,stopped at interior. 9900-TT, 180FWF, 9+/out, 3-/in, VFR, $45K spent so far. $30K or offer. 813-929-0092. no brokers.

Cessna 172 - 1907

1996 GlaStar

172E, IMMACULATE restoration, NDH, 3900-TT, 400-SMOH, IFR, last year manual flaps, $51K/obo, possible trade for Hiller 12C/D, 813-929-0092, no brokers.

Equipment - 6990

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Sporty’s has expanded its exhibit space and is now located in outdoor space, N100 in the area north of the main exhibit han-gars. This expansion provides space for more products, more demonstrations and more displays, Sporty’s officials note.

Sporty’s has an array of products on dis-play, including an on-going demonstration of the Stratus, Sporty’s in-flight weather and traffic receiver.

Sporty’s 1,200-square-foot display in-cludes a headset demo station where cus-tomers can try on a wide range of headsets, side by side, with ease. Also available are a large assortment of cockpit video cameras, GPS, flight gear bags, RAM mounts, radios and more.

“We experimented with the move from an indoor booth to an outdoor space at Air-Venture,” says Sporty’s Pilot Shop Vice President John Zimmerman. “Customers told us they love the change, so we’re mov-ing outdoors for SUN ’n FUN as well.”

Sporty’s tent will have experts available to guide new and experienced users of iPads in their flying. New apps and the latest iPad accessories can be tested.

Sporty’s flight instructors also will be on hand to field any questions about flight

training and discuss opportunities for flying at Sporty’s.

“We are also planning some great show specials — good deals on great products — to give SUN ’n FUN attendees a reason to stop by our tent,” adds Zimmerman.

iPad Forums, TooJohn Zimmerman and Sporty’s Vice

President Bret Koebbe will present three

iPad flying forums during SUN ’n FUN.“iPad 101” will be presented by John Zim-

merman on Thursday at 9 a.m., immediately followed by “Advanced iPad Flying” at 10 a.m. An additional forum, “ADS-B Receiv-ers and the iPad” is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday. All three will be held in Room 1 of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy.

Koebbe will present “Video Cameras in the Cockpit” on Friday in Room 7 at Noon.

WSI will be distributing — at no charge — its new Weather Checklist, a tool that makes it easier for pilots to be sure they are safely analyzing weather conditions.

The Weather Checklist outlines key weather data elements that pilots should re-view during flight planning, pre-flight, and inflight. By using this handy card, pilots can be confident that all important elements have been checked, according to company officials. Then they can focus in on specific areas of concern, if any.

Weather data elements that pilots should analyze for every flight include Radar, Winds Aloft, Surface Conditions, NOTAMs,

TFRs, PIREPS, Turbulence and Icing. The Weather Checklist describes each element and key areas to consider. The information is organized on a card properly sized to fit on the pilot’s clipboard.

The Weather Checklist will be distributed for no charge at WSI’s booth in Hangar A, #051. Pilots will also be able to get weather briefings in the booth throughout the show using WSI’s Pilotbrief Optima.

In addition, WSI will present two presen-tations about weather in the SUN ’n FUN Forums. The first session “Weather on the iPad: What do I need to know?” will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. and Thursday at 11

a.m. The second session “ADS-B or Sirius XM: Which Technology should I use?” is set for Tuesday at 11 a.m. and Wednesday at 10 a.m.

“WSI weather is used by over 40,000 professional pilots to obtain accurate and reliable weather briefings prior to every flight,” said Mark D. Miller, EVP and GM of Aviation for WSI Corporation. “We want to make it easier for pilots to make the right decision to fly based on a complete understanding of the weather conditions. Educating pilots on the impacts of weather is important to us and we look forward to making this decision easy for pilots.”

Sporty’s is bigger and better

Get your free weather checklist from WSI

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Tempest Plus Marketing Group (TPMG) has teamed with Rower Airshows for SUN ’n FUN 2014.

Gary Rower of Rower Airshows is the premier 450-hp Stearman performer in North America, according to Tempest of-ficials.

“Gary combines the skill of 40 years and 20,000+ hours in the cockpit with the grace of a truly classic aircraft, the Stearman, to provide audiences from coast to coast with a show that is dedicated and choreographed to honor the excellence of the US manned space program,” officials said in a prepared release.

Rower is also a Professional Aviation Safety Consultant who developed and man-aged the Safety Management System for the International Council of Air Shows.

“He knows what it takes to prepare him-self and his aircraft for the rigorous de-mands of an airshow schedule, what works and what should be avoided,” Tempest of-ficials continued. “He knows his life liter-ally depends on good judgment, sound de-cisions, and the quality products he uses in his 450 horsepower Stearman.”

“I have the option of using almost any manufacturer’s product in my antique Stearman, but when it comes to quality, reliability and value, I choose Tempest,” Rower said.

Rower will fly at SUN ’n FUN on Tues-day, April 1, and Wednesday, April 2. He will also make an appearance in the Tem-pest booth on Wednesday at 1 p.m. to meet his fans and sign autographs.

On Tuesday at 11 a.m. airshow performer

Melissa Pemberton will be signing auto-graphs at the booth, which is in Hangar C, #81-82.

Tempest is also running a promotion throughout the week in cooperation with Aircraft Spruce. Those who buy Tempest spark plugs and/or oil filters will receive an Aircraft Spruce gift card up to $50.

Tempest teams with Rower Airshows

Offer Details: Hardware and subscription sold separately. Activate a new GXM 42 satellite Aviation receiver with a 6-month or longer subscription to a SiriusXM Aviation package by May 31, 2014, and receive a $300 SiriusXM Visa® Prepaid Card. Fees and taxes apply. You must pay with a credit card. MUST MAINTAIN AT LEAST 90 DAYS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE to receive your rebate. The subscription plan you choose will automatically renew and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates. To cancel you must call us at 1-866-635-2349. See our Customer Agreement for complete terms at siriusxm.com. All fees and programming subject to change. Complete rebate details at www.siriusxmrewards.com/GXM42. SiriusXM Visa Prepaid Card is issued by MetaBank™, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Use your card everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. NOTE: Not all devices are capable of receiving all services offered by SiriusXM. Current information and features may not be available in all locations, or on all receivers. Data displays vary by device; images are representative only. SiriusXM Services may include weather and other content and emergency alert information. Such information and data is not for “safety for life,” but is merely supplemental and advisory in nature, and therefore cannot be relied upon as safety critical in connection with any aircraft, sea craft, automobile, or any other usage. SiriusXM is not responsible for any errors or inaccuracies in the data services or their use. Our Aviation satellite service is available for sale only to those at least 18 and older in the 48 contiguous USA and DC.

© 2014 Sirius XM Radio Inc. Sirius, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. All other marks and logos are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

THE WEATHER & INFO YOU NEEDTHE ENTERTAINMENT YOU WANT

Visit our Booth N-036 Learn more about the offer and enter to win up to a free year subscription of SiriusXM Aviation Pilot Preferred to complement your Garmin GXM 42. Sign up at the show and we will waive the $25 activation fee.

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What’s happening todaySUN ’n FUN 2014

SUN ’n FUN FORUMSForums are held in classrooms at the Cen-tral Florida Aviation Academy (CFAA). Vol-unteers are near all entrances to help you find the right room.

9 a.m.room #1 ipad Trends and Flying with Fore-

Flight Mobile, Jason Miller2 engine care and maintenance, Frank

Lukachinsky3 Flight Testing Your Homebuilt,

Charlie Becker4 Security and GA Safety, Van McK-

enny5 Improving Flight Instruction, John

Ladley6 Unleash the Power of Your Tablet,

Joseph Marszal7 Airpark life: Living the Dream,

George Gratton8 history of Aviation Dress: From

Balloon Era to Shuttle Era, D. Eluwawalge/R. Craigmyle/C. Dawson

9 Aviation legal Seminar, Eric Bolves

10 All auto conversions: What’s New, What’s Old, What Works, Pat Panzera

11 Understanding FAr Enforcement, Patrick Phillips

10 a.m.room #1 Weather on the iPad: What do I need

to know? Jamie Zajac2 Designing the Perfect Paint Scheme,

Craig Barnett3 Day in the Life of an Air Force Fighter

Pilot, Lt Col Kevin “Big Jim” Roethe4 Airparks: The selection Process and

Landing on Grass, Ron Heidebrink5 Carbon Cub EX Kit, Mitch Travis6 Flight Services on Steroids, Mike

Glasgow7 everything You Need to Know about

Aviation Piston Oil, Steve Strollo8 ADS-b, peter Ring9 Aviation legal Seminar, Eric

Bolves

11 New glass-panel Interface Tech-nology for LSA & Homebuilts, Robert Hamilton

11 a.m.room #1 ADS-b or Sirius XM: Which Tech-

nology Should I use? Jamie Zajac2 Stewart Systems: Covering and

Painting, Dan Stewart3 Modernizing the Bonanza, Scott

Erickson4 how to Avoid an FAA Enforcement

Action, Edward J. Page5 Seaplanes 101, Steven McCa-

ughey6 A&p/IA licensing Process and FAR

Review, Thomas Black7 Music Students Make Great Pilots,

John Zapp8 practical home Built Project, Scott

Sky Smith9 Aviation legal Seminar, Eric

Bolves10 handling Tail Rotor Failures for He-

licopter Pilots, Spencer Morgan

11 JFK Jr., Loss of Control, Phil Dixon

12 Noonroom #1 ipad Takes Flight! EFB Challenge

Contest to Test Skills, Charles Sch-neider

2 The real Truth about PMA aftermar-ket parts, Keith Chatten

3 A-Z airspace: Do you Know Where You’re Going? Jack Vandeventer

4 learning to Fly Helicopters: A First-Person Perspective, Chris Dancy

5 buy, build & Fly an Affordable Certi-fied Ride, Connie Stevens

6 Free CSC DUATS: The Future of Flight Planning, Terry Stalvey

7 lSA and Luscombes, D. Combs/R. Ollerton

8 Fast Track ADS-B Academy: In-stalled and Portable Solutions, Joey Ferreyra

9 Aviation legal Seminar, Eric Bolves

10 Ul power, UL260i 95hp@164 lbs, Robert Helms

With more than 70 years of experience, AOPA has achieved its prominent position through effective advocacy, enlightened leadership, technical competence, and genuine dedication to flying.

AOPA is a resource for almost every aspect of flying. We can assist in resolving any aviation concern, provide safety information and seminars, help you learn how to get started, and share with you the benefits of using general aviation.

WE PRESERVE THE FREEDOM TO FLY.

Join or Renew Your Membership Today!aopa.org/membership

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Fly in for your medical exam!

Our trusted physician and Senior FAA Medical Examiner Dr. William Busch is prepared to handle any class of FAA physical.

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*Coupon good for one Gathering Foundation hat per person redeemable at Stallion51 located at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport. Good while supplies last through 4/30/14.


12 Noonroom #11 Future of Instructing, Robert Meder

1 p.m.room #1 What You Need to Know About ADS-

B, Tom Harper2 Taming the Tailwheel, Jim Guldi3 Make your CFI Instruction Time Re-

ally Count, Jack Vandeventer4 Top 10 Aviation Insurance Myths,

Mike Adams5 proper Care & Maintenance for

Starters & Alternators, John Popel6 getting Started with Aircraft Wood-

work and Glue, Vic Boyce7 luscombe restoration, Mainte-

nance and Operations, D. Combs/R. Ollerton

8 Cylinder life, Bill Ross9 Aviation legal Seminar, Eric

Bolves10 Wankel rotary Engines in Experi-

mental Aircraft, Paul Lamar11 how to Rent Airplanes Across the

U.S. with OpenAirplane, Rod Rakic

FAA FORUMSAt the FAA Southern Region Safety Center8:30 a.m. So You Want to be a CFI? Wal-ter Schamel10 a.m. Who Runs Out of Gas? Mike Ad-ams, Avemco Insurance Co.11:30 a.m. Growing a New Crop of Avia-tion Professionals, Janeen Cochan1 p.m. The WINGS Program Explained, Dennis H. Whitley, FAA Safety Team

PARADISE CITY FORUMSAt the briefing tent in Paradise City12-1:15 p.m.: Getting started in Ultra-lights, Carla Larsh1:30-2:45 p.m.: Ask a DAR, Gary Meu-er

MUSEUM PROGRAMS10 a.m. SR-71: The Blackbird Research and Development Years, Lt. Col Blair Bozek1 p.m. Hypersonics, Frank P. Klatt2 p.m. Think Global Flight, Capt. Judy Rice

AIRSHOW 3-6 p.m.

Misty Blues Parachute Team• Aeroshell• 4ce: Rob Holland & Matt Chapman• Tiger Team: Mark Sorenson • and Buck RoetmanJulie Clark• Immortals: Kyle Franklin • & Skip StewartMelissa Pemberton• Greg Koontz• Dan Marcotte• Steve Oliver• Jim Peitz• Gary Rower• Nikolay Timofeev• Gary Ward• Warbirds• Paul McCowan Parachute Team• Jerry Kerby• Gene Soucy•

Evening Entertainment Series7 p.m.: Building Interest in the Future of Aviation, Guest Speakers: Jack Pelton, Mark Baker, Ed Bolen and Matt Zuccaro

EVENING MOVIE(Begins at 8:30 on this night only)CFAA Building: 1st Floor Common Room.Disney’s “planes” — A cropdusting plane with a fear of heights lives his dream of competing in a famous around-the-world aerial race.

All schedules subject to change.

What’s happening today


Air Journey is offering SUN ’n FUN at-tendees 15% off the plane registration fee for all of its journeys when they sign up at its booth in Hangar A, #68.

Stop by the Aerox Aviation Oxygen Sys-tems booth in Hangar A, #98 and let Lloyd pump up your spent cylinders with some fresh Aerox O2. Limit two per customer while supplies last.

Recurrent Training Center (RTC) has a daily drawing for a $500 gift certificate to-ward any course, including initial and IFR recurrent for piston engine planes and King Air 90/100/200s. Find out more in Hangar C, #54.

Fly Mechanic will raffle off a Garmin D2 pilot watch valued at $450. To enter the giveaway, pilots must leave a review of a mechanic shop they have used at Fly Mechanic’s booth in the Southeast Exhibit Area, #15.

Bose is offering a number of show spe-cials in its booth right outside Hangar A. The company also will have autograph ses-sions with featured airshow performers, in-cluding Michael Goulian, Tuesday 11-11:45 a.m.; Patty Wagstaff, Friday 11-11:45 a.m.; and the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team Saturday 1:30-2:45 p.m.

To celebrate the launch of its new web-site, Aircraft Intelligence is giving SUN ’n FUN attendees a chance to experience Air-craftIntel.com on a new iPad. To be eligible to win the iPad, you have to register for a free account between April 1 and April 15. One winner will be drawn at random from all opened accounts that have a confirmed email address. Find out more at the com-pany’s exhibit in Hangar D, #7.

Duracharts is offering its Sectional and TAC charts for a show special price of $5.

Check it out in the North Exhibit Area, #75.

The National Association of Flight In-structors will be running a special online and in person throughout the week of the show, offering a $10 discount on all mem-bership subscription and renewals, reduc-ing the cost of membership to $39 for the year. Join or renew in person at the NAFI booth in Hangar B, #66, or online using the promo code SUNNFUN.

Continental Motors is offering $25 off each magneto and $50 off each magneto kit, plus free shipping, on all orders placed at the show. Find out more at the company’s exhibit in Hangar C, #10-12.

Etched Memory is offering a 15% dis-count on all prepaid special orders. The company specializes in 2D and 3D subsur-face laser engraved personalized gifts and keepsakes. Check out the company’s 3D photo booth in Hangar C, #53.

Electromech Technologies will hold a drawing at its booth in Hangar D, #15. Four winners will be selected each day to receive 10% off the purchase of a Bonanza Cabin Heat Duct Blower Kit.

Eclipse will have it new Eclipse 550 jet on display this week. In honor of its first big show since receiving FAA certification and delivering its first 550 jet to a customer, the company is offering a “SUN ’n FUN Spectacular” package to customers who put down a deposit during the show. The pack-age includes free auto throttles, synthetic vision, a Part 135 package, and an Iridium phone.

Eclipse officials say that’s more than $100,000 in features at no cost. See the jet at the company’s exhibit in the Manufac-turer’s Display area, #033B.

Show specials

SponSored By

SUN ’n FUN Facts Quiz

1. What year was the first SUN ’n FUN Fly-In?

A. 1973 B. 1975C. 1977 D. 1979

2. What year did the Fly-In relocate to its current grounds?

A. 1975 B. 1976 C. 1977 D. 1978

3. What year did it snow at SUN ’n FUN?

A. 1975 B. 1977C. 1979 D. 1981

4. What year was SUN ’n FUN moved to March?

A. 1977 B. 1978C. 1979 D. 1980

Answers based on Unfreeze Your Bird – The History of SUN ’n FUN by Karl ‘Bud’ Davidson and available at PILOT MALL. Ties decided by random drawing.

Mail my $50 PILOT MALL Gift Certificate to:

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: ______________________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________

Tear out and drop off your Quiz entry at the PILOT MALL Aviation Superstore behind Hangar B. Winner’s name will be posted there tomorrow.


Scenes from SUN ’n FUN

Photo by Bill Walker



Photo by Bill Walker Photo by Bill Walker Photo by Ben Sclair

Photo by Ben SclairPhoto by Ben Sclair

Photo by Meg Godlewski

In with the New.

IFD540 & IFD440FMS/GPS/NAV/COMsFeaturing ‘Hybrid-Touch’

Avidyne has established itself as the brand of choice for pilots who want innovative, easy-to-use avionics.

The IFD540 and IFD440FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs set a new standardfor user-interface simplicity in communication and LPV navigation.

Not only that, but they are true plug & playreplacements for existing 530 & 430-Seriesnavigators, using existing wiring and mounting trays, keeping installation easy and affordable.

Leveraging the award-winning Page & Tabuser interface of our Entegra Release 9system along with our highly-intuitive ‘Hybrid-Touch’ user interface, the IFD540and IFD440 make it much easier to accessthe information you want when you want it,whether you prefer touch-screen orknob/button controls.

Now you have a choice. And the choice is easy. Avidyne.

www.IFD540.comVisit us in Booth C71/72

Documents

Sun-n-Fun Today Apr. 1, 2014