Sun 'n Fun airshow 50th anniversary

The opening day of the 50th annual Sun 'n Fun began with amazing airshow performances, exhibits, a career fair, workshops, forums, good food a concert and movies. This year's event took place between 9 and 14 April at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Florida.

- Athol Franz

The opening day on Tuesday was packed with press events and previews and a historical marker was unveiled in front of the museum doors at 09h30, provided by the city of Lakeland. The Sun ‘n Fun studio was streaming the morning event live from its studio, with hosts Gene Conrad and Amanda Holly.

Tuesday started with a daytime airshow, featuring performances from the TITAN Aerobatic team in four T-6 aircraft; the Warbird Arrival Show in various warbirds; Jack Aces in two P-51s; the USAF F-35A Demo Team; the Polaris Ghost Squadron in a Mig 29, three Alpha Jets and four L-39s; Greg Koontz in a Decathlon and Nathan Hammond in a De Haviland Chipmunk. After the airshow ended, the night entertainment began with the opening concert featuring singer Dylan Scott with special guest Sara Evans.

New and exciting announcements

At the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo, Textron eAviation showed off its first Pipistrel Velis Electro to receive an FAA exemption from light sport aircraft regulations. The exemption was approved on 4 March and permits the electric-powered, two-seat airplane to be operated under LSA regulations in the US. Kriya Shortt, the president and CEO of Textron eAviation, said that the company’s goal is to now deliver exempted Velis Electro demonstrators to its dealer network. With the battery providing about 50 minutes of endurance (not including reserves), she noted that the small airplane is ideal for near-airport flight training, meaning practicing take-offs and landings, as well as pattern work, because of its more muted noise profile. In addition, Shortt said the Velis Electro’s lower acquisition cost and 60 to 70 percent lower operating costs versus piston airplanes will result in reduced aircraft rental costs, saving flight students money.