The Wings Of History

By Billy Townsend, Tampa Tribune, Fla.

Apr. 18–LAKELAND — The rainbow-striped wind socks are flying, the war birds are growling, the barbecue is grilling, and the cash is flowing.

The 33rd annual Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In, Lakeland’s yearly carnival of aviation and commerce, is under way. Airplanes of virtually every conceivable shape and design started arriving Monday, plying this year’s unusually brisk winds above Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Festivities officially kicked off Tuesday.

The Fly-In, which doubles as a convention of the Experimental Aviation Association, bills itself as the largest festival in the state. It’s the second-largest event of its kind in the world, behind only the fly-in held at Oshkosh, Wis. About 160,000 people take part in the weeklong event each year, many of them camping out on the airport infield beneath the wings of their planes.

They find no shortage of things to see and do on the sprawling Sun ‘n Fun campus. Some of them include:

–A daily air show put on by high-performance aerobatic flyers and a Friday night air show that ends with fireworks.

–Demonstrations and flyovers of active military aircraft, including the A-10 Warthog, a ground attack specialist; the supersonic B-1B bomber; the Navy’s F-18 Superhornet; and the B-2 “stealth” bomber. Other military jets and helicopters will be parked at various times throughout the week.

–A squadron of historical military aircraft, generally known as “war birds.” Many of them are World War II-era propeller planes.

–Paradise City, the ebullient community of ultralight and light sport aircraft owners that forms around Sun ‘n Fun’s grass airstrip. It’s the aviation equivalent of a garage band convention, where flying parachutes, tiny ultralights and other oddities take to the air.

–Aviation vendors selling anything you might want to use on a plane, including airplanes themselves. Sun ‘n Fun organizers expect more than 500 vendors this year.

The Fly-In also is a better value for the public this year. In the past, visitors without aviation affiliation weren’t allowed on the flight line, the vast network of taxiways and fields where planes park and pilots hold court.

This year, the $30 daily ticket assures access to all the Fly-In’s attractions. Sun ‘n Fun President John Burton said he hopes the wider access will increase attendance for years to come.

Frank Sperandeo, of Fayetteville, Ark., has flown Miss Pearl, his immaculately restored 1953 Piper Pacer, to Lakeland for years. He’s won awards for his plane, and now he judges others and generally holds court.

“I like people,” he said. “Families come up to the plane, and I love to talk about it.” This year Sperandeo, a retired physics and engineering professor, brought Max, a stuffed replica of a large black dog, for children to climb on. In the past, they’ve climbed on his wheel housings, scratching them.

It’s precisely that mix of fellowship, physics and eccentricity that has made the Fly-In a powerful lure for more than 30 years.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: The 33rd annual Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In

WHEN: Through Monday; gates open at 8 a.m.

WHERE: Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, 4175 Medulla Road

FEATURES: The annual event has become one the world’s largest gatherings of aircraft and aviation lovers. There are air shows at 2 p.m. daily, military demonstrations and aviation commerce.

ADMISSION: Daily adult admission is $30; other ticket options are available. Children 10 or younger admitted free.

INFORMATION: (863) 644-2431 or www.sun-n-fun.org

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Tampa Tribune, Fla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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