Sun N Fun 2016?

G-Man

G-Man

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AirmanG
I'm starting to think about Sun N Fun 2016 - April 5-10. Any tips or secrets to share? Good, cheap, reasonably local hotels? Places to eat?

Looks like the terrific Kermit Weeks Museum, Fantasy of Flight, is only open Fri, Sat, Sun 11-3. Other 'must-do' things in the area? Thanks!
 
I usually stay in the Kissimmee area ,rooms are cheap,plenty of nice restaurants ,friendly FBO .
 
Overwhelmingly likely I will fly commercial, probably to Tampa, then rent a car.
 
Usually cheaper for car and flights to go into Orlando. Mco. There are lots of motels close. Kinda depends if you are planning several days at sun n fun, or, if you plan on doing the tourist soirée. If you want to be close to the show you should start looking soon for rooms. Orlando is less than hour away though, even in traffic. I live about 10 minutes from the show in winter. There practice area is right over my house, so I get lots of shows.
 
G-Man said:
Overwhelmingly likely I will fly commercial, probably to Tampa, then rent a car.
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I'm starting to consider going...

You could always fly to DFW, then keep me company in either the Skylane or the Bonanza.

Then we can split other costs as appropriate.
 
If I still have my plane at that point, I definitely want to go and yeah I'll be flying myself to it for sure.
 
You can always find hotel rooms in north Lakeland, meaning north of the expressway. As long as you've got ground transportation you'll be fine. Plus the venue is every bit as good as Oshkosh if all you're looking for is gear and aircraft companies.
 
G-Man said:
I'm starting to think about Sun N Fun 2016 - April 5-10. Any tips or secrets to share? Good, cheap, reasonably local hotels? Places to eat?

Looks like the terrific Kermit Weeks Museum, Fantasy of Flight, is only open Fri, Sat, Sun 11-3. Other 'must-do' things in the area? Thanks!
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The I 4 corridor is saturated with places to go and things to do, from the white powdery sandy beaches of Clearwater Beach to Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral on the two ends. Have fun !

Cheers
 
I've flown commercially a few times, twice to Tampa, and once to Orlando. What is cheaper depends on where you're flying from. The distances are the same. Lots of hotels around. Driving in is easy.
 
I will be there Thursday - Sunday. Camping under the wing :goofy:
Yes, it can get cold at night, so be prepared. Showers are H&C & are great too. I camp in the "antique" area (1968 182L). Its close to everything. You can walk to all. Coffee is on in the morning & cold Yuengling's in the PM :)
Have fun, Be Safe, Be There !
 
As I was reading through this thread I was going to ask if anyone had any experience camping with their airplane. I have flown to SnF in the past but stayed in hotels. I was thinking about trying the camping by my airplane route if others recommended it. I have a restored '65 Cherokee so I would also qualify to camp in the Antique area too. After Capt Gary's post I'm a little more tempted now.
 
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Your Cherokee will carry more than enough stuff to camp for a week if its just you. Might be pushing the load a bit if its you and your best buddy, unless you're midgets like me. I camp every year at Oshkosh and love it. Wouldn't do the Show any other way.
 
Camped out w/ my friends C170 years ago. Flying it in was fun too. A lot of fun. Shower facilities were excellent. Having a place to crash if you needed a break was nice.
 
Other than the obvious tent, air matress, lights, cooler and bug spray, what else is on your must have list for camping at SnF?
 
We usually rented a house/condo while there. It was cheaper than a hotel if you have a few friends to stay with.

Now I have a friend in the area (5 minutes away), so I just stay with them.

Fantasy of Flight is must see, unfortunately, they have it scaled down now to a small portion of what it used to be while they re-tool the whole place into a new type of museum.
 
steingar said:
Your Cherokee will carry more than enough stuff to camp for a week if its just you. Might be pushing the load a bit if its you and your best buddy, unless you're midgets like me. I camp every year at Oshkosh and love it. Wouldn't do the Show any other way.
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Moderation, Dr., Moderation.

With the RV's useful load of about 640 lbs, me (160 lbs) and a rather large buddy (210 lbs), have camped most of a week at Osh. That means an extra fuel stop and leaving everything but the essentials out of the trip, but a grand trip it was...

Heck, SnF camping was doable with a buddy in my old Tomahawk.

In a Cherokee with a what, 800+ lb useful load? It ought to be easy.
 
We rent out house (on Pipkin about 3 minutes from the airport during the event. 3 bedrooms 2 bath) if anyone here or anyone you know is interested.
 
Great idea. I had this kind of fun with my friend before 4 years.
 
I expect to meet a good lot of POA'ers there. I know Mick Y, will be there. The fun will be the whole experience, evolving around our addiction...
AVIATION & AVIATIORS! This is a cheap trip, with cheap gas. No Excuses guys n girls. Saddle up & lets enjoy a few days of Fun in the Sun!
 
I'm still planning on it... I just need to get my rear in gear and get my logistics squared away.
 
And we need to start planning a meet up dinner or drinking session for the PoA'ers who are present.
 
All in favor, say Aye !
I'm In... I'm just afraid that when I meet you all, my visions will be broken....LOL
Let's get together & have some good clean fun :)
 
I'll be bringing a friend in the Cherokee with me. Arrive Tues and back out on Fri
 
We're considering it. No firm plans, but have the time marked for vacation in the calendar.
 
My current plans are to fly down on Thursday morning and arrive before the airport closes for the afternoon air show. I will be in the Vintage Camping area provided there is still space available. I will either leave Saturday afternoon after the airshow or Sunday morning. All of this is contingent on the weather. You know how VFR GA goes. I have some flexibility in my schedule where I can adjust some around the weather. I'm just hoping the weather will cooperate that week. This is my airplane so you will recognize me.

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Now that's taking "flying under the hood" to a completely different level.
 
Mick ,it rains somewhere in Florida every day,just fly up to the weather ,stop and let it pass over your location. Did VFR sun n fun many years,you should be fine,if your patient and flexible . Good luck.
 
He's right, Mick. WE get to move VFR, almost every day of the year. The month of April, is usually nice. But as stated, Fly up to the weather, plan a stop & have a lunch or ... & wait a while & move on. Done that many times in my 40 years of GA / VFR.
I'm planning on being there Thursday Mid day too. I usually get camp set up, enjoy the air show & relax then rest of the day. Camping with your plane is the BEST! Keep in touch & we will meet up.
 
MickYoumans said:
I will either leave Saturday afternoon after the airshow or Sunday morning
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personal recommendation, I don't know if you have been before but do not miss the Saturday night, night airshow! It's amazing and my favorite part of Sun-N-Fun, I literally stay overnight Saturday just to see the night airshow. I'm sure some others would agree its well worth it!
 
No Question! IF you have never seen a Nigh time airshow, go for that alone! It really is spectacular.
& remember,,, Flying in? You MUST have Tie Downs ! For day parking or camping.
They sell em there for 25. too...
 
The week of Sun N Fun is historically the worst week of flying weather in the southern states. So if you fly GA craft you can enjoy
Ceilings of 200 feet
Three days of continuous rain
Thunderstorms or early spring tornadoes
Winds 14G22
 
tinerj said:
The week of Sun N Fun is historically the worst week of flying weather in the southern states. So if you fly GA craft you can enjoy
Ceilings of 200 feet
Three days of continuous rain
Thunderstorms or early spring tornadoes
Winds 14G22
Click to expand...

It actually hasn't been that bad around here lately..I'm sure I'm tempting fate by even uttering those words. Nothing but clear or high overcast skys, little windy, but no rain really. I've been looking forward to the IFR conditions that early summer start bringing for more approach work. You know, before the towering cumulus and thunderstorms really take over for 4 months.
 
Ok All... the excuses are over... The Plane is ready, loaded & fueled as much as I want. Weather si supposed to be CAVU most all week long. Camping should be super nice! Get out there & Live & support GA !!! (not Georgia, sorry Mick)...
 
image.jpeg
I have developed a problem with the nose strut on my plane. We pumped it back up with air a couple of weeks ago but it only held for four or five flights before it compressed all the way back down again. My mechanic thought it might be the air valve leaking so we changed it. Unfortunately I still had the same results. See the attached picture. Saturday we were going to put a new set of seals in the strut but the weather was so lousy that I was not able to fly up to his shop for the repair. I am hoping I can take an extra day off of work and fly up to his shop Wednesday and rebuild the strut so I can still head down to Lakeland on Thursday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can work all of this out. The weather forcast for the weekend in Lakeland is looking good. I sure want to take advantage of it.
 
I'm flying in Friday morning and will be camping that night in the GA camping area. Mooney N57039 if anyone wants to stop by.
 
The innsitters are here, the plane is loaded, and we are ready for an early tomorrow morning launch for Florida.

All we need now? Good weather!
 
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