1974-2024

Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo (stylized SUN 'n FUN) is a Lakeland, Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of aviation education. The organization is best known for its annual fly-in—which pilots and aviation aficionados broadly consider the opening event of the yearly air-show season and early spring’s premier aviation and aerospace hootenanny. 2024 will mark the 50th anniversary of the SUN ‘n FUN fly in. The 09 through 14 April event will strive to honor the pioneers and volunteers by whose industry and expertise the organization has grown from a small local gathering of pilots and aircraft owners to o

Also: Avionics Theft, CIAM Legends Award, Wright Trophy For Crippen, PHI buys Airbus Helis

The ANN crew had an immensely successful trip to Mt. Vernon Illinois for the very busy 15th Annual MidWest LSA Expo. Not the biggest show in the world, there was still LOTS of flying, an overtly friendly atmosphere and a volunteer staff that could NOT be beat. Close to 40 vendors filled the easily accessed airport ramp, and nearly 200 demo flights were safely executed. Overall traffic was estimated to be up some 20% over previous such events. On 11 September, Frank Rubio, who’s currently serving out a year-long mission aboard the International Space Stat

The Motor Glider Impacted The Ground About 77° Nose Down Attitude 

On August 31, 2023, about 1339 mountain daylight time, a Schleicher Alexander Gmbh & Co ASH 26E motor glider, N50FU, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wellington, Colorado. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The motor glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Transmitted flight track data from the International Gliding Commission (IGC) flight recorder showed the self-launching motor glider depart to the northwest from the Owl Canyon Gliderport (4CO2) at 1320. During the climb, several turns were performed and a maximum global positioning system (GPS) altitude of about 7,800 ft was obser

Aero Linx: RAF Cranwell

RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire was the world’s first Air Academy and today, it continues to select and train the next generation of RAF officers. Additionally, it is home to RAF Recruitment, RAF Air Cadets, No 3 and No 6 Flying Training Schools, Central Flying School, Air Warfare School, the Tedder Leadership Academy and Robson Academy and the Band of the RAF College.

Local Airport Advisory (LAA) A service available only in Alaska and provided by facilities that are located on the landing airport, have a discrete ground-to-air communication frequency or the tower frequency when the tower is closed, automated weather reporting with voice broadcasting, and a continuous ASOS/AWOS data display, other continuous direct reading instruments, or manual observations available to the specialist. 

“Training and verification of individual pilot credentials is a more just and legal approach than a blanket ban on an entire legal category of ultralights. USUA has used a similar philosophy when insuring pilots in our very successful third-party insurance program. Showing that the applicant has received some kind of training has proved to be a valid approach that has worked for years. Validating training can take all kinds of forms including an FAA pilot certificate, a CFI endorsement to solo, or training through a program like the USPPA for powered paragliders. A lot of FAA-certificated pilots fly ultralights, making some ultralight pilots more qualified than some general aviation pilots. If two Cessna 172s were involved in accidents at or near the airport, wou