LAKELAND, FLA. – The 41st Annual Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo, April 21-26, 2015, at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, was the second largest revenue producing year in the event’s history. The indirect economic impact on the I-4 corridor in and around Lakeland, Fla., was $64 million.
Nearly 200,000 people from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories, participated. International guests arrived from 77 countries. There were 506 exhibitors, and 25,000 room nights booked in Central Florida that week, not to mention the hundreds of campers on the grounds.
The daily airshows featured the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds in their F-16 Fighting Falcons, the first U.S. appearance of The Breitling Jet Team featuring seven L-39C Albatros jet fighters, and 40 other top civilian performers. Additionally, EAA Warbirds of America reported 174 planes registered, an increase from 152 in 2014.
Sun ‘n Fun President/CEO John R. “Lites” Leenhouts was thrilled be able to recognize the men and women in service around the world by sending vintage military aircraft from the show to nearby MacDill Air Force Base in a special flyby salute to veterans. Leenhouts is himself a veteran having flown F-14 Tomcats in the U.S. Navy.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) were the topic of conversation during Sun ‘n Fun. Presentations by government representatives, vendors and colleges at the FAA National Safety Center, the Aerospace Pavilion and Aerospace Discovery at the Florida Air Museum at the airport, introduced the rules, regulations and potential UAS hold for the future. Workshops on UAS are in the works for 2016.
Sun ‘n Fun is presented each year by Visit Florida and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (www.sun-n-fun.org).
