In aviation, spring doesn’t start on March 20th—it starts a couple of weeks before Sun ‘n Fun. When pilots start watching the ForeFlight weather and planning their route for their spring pilgrimage to LAL.
The phones go from a slow taxi to full throttle in about three days. Messages pour in. Everyone’s ready. And just like that, we’re out of the winter maintenance haze and into the full-throttle energy of the flying season.
For those of us in the aviation trade, AOPA’s Sun ‘n Fun is more than just an airshow. It’s the first step in a season-long adventure. Like spring hulling and planting for a gardener, it’s the annual launch of activity, engagement, and joy that powers the entire general aviation community.
From Winter Work to Spring Wake-Up
Sure, plenty of people still fly small aircraft during the winter months, but in much of the country, it’s quieter. Weather’s unstable, the days are short, and downtime means time for maintenance, updates, repairs, and dreaming about longer flying days ahead.
Then March creeps in—and suddenly we’re firing up cameras, checking booth gear, printing fresh signage, and making sure the van is ready to haul a full trade show load cross-country. The booth gear doesn’t fit in the Champ or the VL3, so we roll in style: a 12-foot trailer packed tight behind the Sprinter van, loaded with TV’s, displays, banners, cables, snacks—and of course, the mountain bikes.
Because why not squeeze in some fun and exercise if the load doesn’t let us fly?
This Year’s Road to SNF
This year, Matt and our older homeschooled pilot are making the road trip from Texas to Florida the slow way—via Bentonville, Arkansas. Camping at Bella Vista, hitting the bike trails, and making the most of the journey before diving into the madness of SNF.
Lisa, the younger kid, and our sales rep Winchester will fly commercial, arriving before the show starts to help get things set up in Hangar C, Booth 77. The rest of the team will be holding down the fort from the office: Juleigh on the phones, the rest of our staff making sure social media, graphics, and communications and auction programming all stay humming for those who can’t make it to Lakeland this year.
Spring Means Community, and We’re Just Getting Started
We love seeing old friends and making new ones at Sun ‘n Fun—but it’s only the beginning. We’re especially looking forward to more community events after SNF:
- EAA Pancake Breakfast in Eastland, TX – April 12
- Dyess Big Country Air Fest in Abilene – April 19–20
- Hops and Props – April 26
There’s nothing better than local and regional aviation events that bring people together. So now we want to hear from you:
What’s your favorite community aviation event?
Is it a small-town fly-in? A regional airshow? A pancake breakfast that’s been happening for 40 years?
Have an aviation event you love? Send us a write-up and some photos—we’d love to publish it and help spread the word. Whether it’s a local fly-in, a regional airshow, or a hidden gem of a pancake breakfast, we want the whole aviation community to know about the great things happening in your corner of the sky.
What’s Your Story?
Before we wrap this post up, we’d love your help telling a good story in the middle of this one. Got a memory from a past Sun ‘n Fun or another show that really kicked your season into gear? Think about one of these:
- A favorite moment from a past SNF that made it feel like this was the moment the year really started
- A surprise encounter or business connection at a show that changed your season
- The first time you ever really realized the power of community at an aviation event
- A behind-the-scenes moment that made all the prep feel worth it
Got a memory from a past Sun ‘n Fun—or any aviation event—that kicked off your season in a way you’ll never forget? We’d love to hear it. Tell us the full story, however long it takes, and include some photos if you’ve got them. Whether it was a chance encounter, a breakthrough moment, or just pure fun in the sun, we’ll help share it with the aviation community so others can experience it, too.
Looking forward to seeing so many of you at Sun ‘n Fun. Come find us in Hangar C, Booth 77—or better yet, send us a message and let’s make sure we help share your aviation event with the rest of the community. Spring is here. Let’s fly.