In addition to showcasing their new Super Hornets, this year the Blue Angels are featuring Fat Albert, the team’s newly acquired C130J Hercules transport. The plane is noted for its short takeoff and landing abilities.
Originally scheduled to arrive at the airport at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, the team was delayed by about 2½ hours because of severe weather sweeping through Pensacola, where the team is based. However, Fat Albert crewmembers were on hand by 10 a.m. That plane arrives in advance of air shows caring U.S. Navy aircraft maintenance personnel to prepare show sites for the jets’ arrivals.
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Your daily guide to Sun n Fun s 2021 Aerospace Expo
LAKELAND Thousands of aviation enthusiasts from across the country are arriving in Lakeland for the 47th annual Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo this week from Monday through Sunday. The event features dozens of industry-related workshops, presentations and at least one airshow daily.
Here s some of the highlights, starting with the airshow lineups as selected by The Ledger. A full daily schedule can be found online at flysnf.org.
Air show lineup, by day
All afternoon airshows start at 1 p.m., with the exception of Thursday when the U.S. Navy s Blue Angels are expected to arrive at noon. Sun n Fun hosts two nighttime airshows starting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Sun n Fun returns to the skies over Lakeland after last year s cancellation
Ken Suarez reports
LAKELAND, Fla. - After being canceled last year because of COVID-19, the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo is being reborn. The fly-in returns next week at Lakeland Linder International Airport. I think it is super, offered Dave Smith, a volunteer from Orlando who is already camping on the grounds. It is just a great place to be this time of year. We were disappointed but we were prepared because we knew how serious it could be, said Smith’s wife, Pat.
The event being called off put Sun n Fun in a precarious situation financially. Eighty percent of its budget comes from that one event. The money pays for teens to learn to fly and prepares them for careers in aviation and aerospace.