SUN ‘N FUN® Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida
FL – One of the biggest events in aviation is coming up on April 9, 2024. It’s SUN ‘N FUN® in Lakeland, Florida, which runs from April 9 to April 14 from 9 AM to 6 PM. For those who like late nights and exciting evening airshows, the expo is open until 10 PM on April 10 and 13. This aviation event is being held at the SUN ‘N FUN® Expo Campus at 4075 James C. Ray Drive, and APN will be attending.
What is SUN ‘N FUN®?
SUN ‘N FUN® is a five-day event held annually in Lakeland, Florida, about 35 miles east of Tampa. SUN ‘N FUN® is fond of saying that IT’S LIKE SPRING BREAK FOR PILOTS™, and they’re not wrong. There’s plenty to do and see, from airshows, fireworks, concerts, workshops, and a career fair. There’s even a preflight experience for teachers being held on April 13.
Enjoy the SUN ‘N FUN® Flight Plaza
One of the biggest draws for aviation lovers, pilots, and professionals this year will be the FUTURE ‘n FLIGHT PLAZA. This area has been designated at the SUN ‘N FUN® headquarters. If you’ve been to SUN ‘N FUN® in the past, you probably remember South East Exhibits. FUTURE ‘n FLIGHT PLAZA is the new name. It will host the aviation career fair, youth activities, and new aviation technology. Specific areas include ATP Flight School, Aviator College, Flight Training 101, a flight sim experience, T-Black Academy, Republic Airways, and Sonic Boom Entertainment, among other venues.
Thrilling Aerial Performances at the SUN ‘N FUN® Airshows
SUN ‘N FUN® will have daily airshows from 1 PM to 5 PM. Night airshows will be held on Wednesday and Sunday from 7 PM to 9 PM. Featured aircraft this year include the RC-45J Expediter, T-6 Texan, P-51 Mustang Gunfighter, LT-6 Texan, T-34 Mentor, and SBD Dauntless Speedy D, among other military and historic aircraft.
This year, there will also be a variety of performers, including the TITAN Aerobatic Team, Redline Airshows, the USAF F-35A Demo Team, the Ghost Squadron, the USN F-18 Super Hornet Demo Team, and the USAF Thunderbirds. Individual performers include Michael Goulian, Manfred Radius, Jim Peltz, Kevin Coleman, Mister Mulligan, Patty Wagstaff, and Erik Edgren, among many others. These airshows will be fantastic with this lineup of aerobatic teams and amazing pilots.
Exciting Evening Entertainment
On Tuesday, April 9, attendees can enjoy a concert featuring Dylan Scott and Sara Evans on the Warbird Ramp. Patrons can enjoy fireworks on April 10 and 13, and The Sunset Ariel Circus will perform at Paradise City on April 9, 11, and 12 evenings.
Aviation Career Fair
If you want to see what careers are available in aviation, check out the career fair. The career fair will be held April 9 through 14 from 9 AM until 5 PM. Individuals who wish to attend the career fair will need a general admission ticket, and there’s no need to wear business attire. Instead, the expo recommends that attendees wear appropriate clothing for the weather and events. Employers participating in the career fair include Allegiant Air, Alpine Air, Envoy Air, Frontier Airlines, GoJet Airlines, Golf Aero, PlaneSense Inc., Southwest, Vista America, and many others.
Camping at SUN ‘N FUN®
SUN ‘N FUN® does allow camping at their campground. You can camp with your airplane, in a tent, or in your RV. The campground offers three packages. You can purchase just camping. You can buy camping and one admission, or you can buy camping and two admission tickets. All weekly rates, whether camping in a tent, in your RV, or with your airplane, are the same. It’s $168 for a camping pass for the week. It’s $308 for camping plus one admission ticket and $448 for camping and two admission tickets. There are also single-day camping passes, but they must be purchased on-site.
Fly-In to SUN ‘N FUN®
You can fly your airplane into SUN ‘N FUN®. Pilots who fly into SUN ‘N FUN® should check in at the Pilot Welcome Center, which is located at The Island. The welcome center is being sponsored by Pillips 66. Pilots who land at SUN ‘N FUN® will receive a Fly-in Style Pilot Card, which provides discounts. A few of those discounts include $5 off preferred seating, 10% off two t-shirts at the merchandise tents, swag, free beverage refills at certain vendors, and a discount at Sunset Grill.
Tickets to SUN ‘N FUN®
Tickets to SUN ‘N FUN® are pretty affordable for the 2024 year.
General Admission
It’s important to note that children under 10 are free.
- Adult Single Day – $45
- Youth Single Day – $20
- Adult Weekly – $170
- Youth Weekly – $70
Florida Resident Weekend Specials
It’s important to note that children under 10 are free.
- Adults for Saturday and Sunday – $45
- Adult for Sunday – $30
- Children for Saturday and Sunday – $20
- Children for Sunday – $10
This year’s SUN ‘N FUN® aviation expo is the 50th anniversary of the event, and it will be a fantastic time for aviation enthusiasts, pilots, aviation professionals, and children. There’s never been a better time to get involved with the aviation industry. At the SUN ‘N FUN® event in Lakeland, Florida, you can learn all about airplanes, watch airshows, eat fantastic food, and participate in all the events. To learn more about SUN ‘N FUN®, check out the aerospace expo website.