80 | FLIGHTPATHRIGHT:The Sun ‘n Fun
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
gate guard with the Blue
Angels flying their F/A-18
Hornets in the distance.Florida’s
Sun ‘n Fun
A
genuine aviation extravaganza, the 43rd An-
nual Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo at
the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lake-
land, Florida, held over 4-9 April provided six
days of non-stop activity.
Generally about four hours in length and varying
in content from day to day, the daily air shows fea-
tured civilian aerobatic displays, solo and formation
warbird aerobatics, air combat simulations (complete
with pyrotechnics) and jet aerobatic teams. Celebrat-
ing thirty years of excellence in providing high per-
formance training for North American P-51 Mustang
pilots, Lee Lauderback’s Florida-based Stallion 51
organisation staged a reunion of its Mustang alumni
with a formation arrival and the P-51 Mustang Day on
T hu rsday (see page 18). A i rcra f t ta k i n g pa r t i n Su n ‘n
Fun 2017 covered the entire spectrum of aviation
with perhaps the most interesting warbird to take
part in the air show being Art Nalls’ Sea Harrier FA.2
that demonstrated its short takeoff, high-speed, hov-
ering and vertical landing capabilities on Saturday
and Sunday.
Proceeds from the annual Sun ‘n Fun extravaganza
are used by the Aerospace Center for Excellence (for-
merly known as the Florida Air Museum) at the Lake-
land Linder Regional Airport to provide students
with opportunities for careers in aviation, with
US$500,000 in scholarships awarded each year.
Frank B. Mormillo
The Dash One Canadair
CF-5D Freedom Fighter in
action during a jet
warbird flying display.ABOVE: The AeroShell North
American AT-6 display team smoking
up the sky over the Lakeland Linder
Regional Airport. The Geico
Skytypers also performed in AT-6
Texans at Sun ‘n Fun this year.The Mach 2, Inc. MiG-23ML ‘Flogger’ was an imposing sight.LEFT: The Clar Blue
Sky North American
T-28C Trojan on the
ramp during the
Saturday morning hot
air balloon launch.