Sun ‘n Fun Day Comes Alive: Day One Photo Gallery!
The show got underway with big expectations and lots of pre-show activity (including way more planes, attendees and exhibitors than anyone expected even two weeks ago).
Sun 'n Fun 2021 successfully returned after a year's cancellation, with a joyous atmosphere indicating the public's readiness for air shows.
Although large crowds were anticipated, Day One saw lighter attendance, and mask usage significantly decreased throughout the day despite initial reminders.
The event showcased a diverse range of aircraft, from new models like the Cubcrafter NX Cub and Sonex jets to vintage planes and warbirds, alongside a virtual exhibition from Textron Aviation, with the FAA unofficially present.
This year’s Sun ‘n Fun is one of the most interesting fly-ins ever. With the show cancelled last year as the pandemic began to ramp up, it was an open question whether this year’s show would even happen. It has, and the atmosphere is almost joyous. Sun ‘n Fun head John “Lites” Leenhouts in his morning briefing said that the world was clearly ready for an air show again. And it’s showing!
The day before the show. Big crowds were anticipated, so we wanted a before-and-after gauge.An RV-9 gets pulled though the main display line on the day before the event started.Wipaire floats on a Fire Boss, an Air Tractor AT-802 with a unique water scooping system. The plane looks anything but small when you’re next to it.A Boeing C-17, one of the stars of the show, ready to touch down at LAL.On the day before the show, a light fog was covering the field. It burned off quickly, and sunny, warm weather has been the prevailing trend since.A Sun ‘n Fun staff member at the entrance to one of the hangars as an attendee makes his way in.Crowds were light on Day One of the show, and initially, a masks-required reminder was given by Sun ‘n Fun staff at the entry to the exhibition buildings, though later on in the day there seemed to be no such checks.Day One action in one of the halls. By the end of the day, mask usage was very low, estimated by one observer at between 10 and 20%.There’s a nose wheel on this Cubcrafter! The company’s newly certificated NX Cub had a prominent place at Sun ‘n Fun.Textron Aviation had a virtual exhibition. It was really well done, with Textron personnel appearing on video to give demonstrations and presentations.This is Sun ‘n Fun life.Because of the agency’s pandemic policy, the FAA wasn’t officially at the show, according to Sun ‘n Fun. So this is an unofficial sighting.The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is operated by Warbird Adventures out of Kissimmee, Florida. We vote yes.There was not one but two Sonex jets at the show. The littlest homebuilt jet is powered by a single, small turbine mounted atop the rear fuselage in front of the V-tail, very much like a Cirrus SF-50 Vision Jet.A vintage Stinson Station Wagon attracted a crowd of admirers on Day One of the show.Another look at the impeccably restored Stinson Reliant in the antique display area.Another detail on the same Reliant.Volunteer aircraft marshals on their bikes. Yeah, they’re having fun.For context. You are in Lakeland.Mike and Karen Goulian pose for a shot with EAA/AirVenture honcho Jack Pelton, who was at Sun ‘n Fun taking in the joy of the return of air shows to America. And doubtless taking notes, as well.These guys fly drones! This RQ-7B is set to go on its mobile launcher.On Day One of the event, crowds were light, as evidenced by the lack of lines at lunch time at the concessions.
