Category Archives: P-51 Mustang

SUN ‘n FUN Evaluates Safety Protocol before Annual Fly-In

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Scott Smith

SUN ‘n FUN Evaluates Safety Protocol before Annual Fly-In

(March 9, 2017 Lakeland, FL) Thursday morning brought Lakeland’s finest to the SUN n FUN Expo Campus for their annual Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan meeting ahead of the 43^rdannual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo, which will be held April 4-9, 2017.

Representatives from all of Polk County’s emergency response teams attended the meeting, which included an hour long mock drill. Jeff Wharton of the Lakeland Fire Department and Rick Savage, representing Life Net 5, led the course and drill. All SUN ‘n FUN staff members were required to attend the meeting and drill, and the 30-plus participants followed a carefully prepared procedure that has been developed in case of emergency during the fly-in.

The drill included a site-wide power outage and simultaneously a patron who was involved in a hit and run. The drill included Life Net 5 landing a helicopter on the campus to retrieve an injured spectator, Lakeland Fire Department fire trucks, and Lakeland Police Officers responding to the emergency in real time.

SUN ‘n FUN has always been dedicated to the safety of every person who enters of their campus and strives to improve safety regulations every year. John “Lites” Leenhouts, President and CEO of SUN ‘n FUN, knows how important safety protocols are and makes sure his staff is prepared for any emergency on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus.

“Safety doesn’t happen by accident,” Leenhouts stated. “It’s the result of trained professionals acting with good judgement and procedures that govern good operations in the air and on the ground. Professionals don’t make mistakes.”

The staff working during the SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo utilizes many different techniques to reach the public in the event of an emergency. Patrons are encouraged to sign up for text message alerts, which will alert them to an emergency on the campus. They can also utilize social media to see updates on events in the area. New to the event this year, the campus will have jumbotrons on the airfield to prepare fans for weather alerts and emergency situations. The event will also include a siren on the campus for the first time. The siren will blare when there is a severe weather alert, warning people to move to an inside location on the campus.

Jeff Wharton believes drills are a great way to prepare for an emergency.

“Safety is the main goal for SUN ‘n FUN” Wharton said. “We want everyone to have a good time, but be aware of their surroundings. There are things during the fly-in that are not normal to an everyday theme park like airplanes, golf carts, four wheelers, etc.”

The SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo is prepared for an action-packed show, which will include performances by the US Navy Blue Angels and the world’s largest gathering of P-51 Mustangs in close to a decade. Air show and workshop schedules, camping reservations, registration for activities, and ticketing information can be found on the SUN ‘n FUN website at flysnf.org. As always, safety will be a top priority.

For more information on SUN ‘n FUN safety, please contact our office at 863-644-2431.

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SUN ‘n FUN is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, located on the grounds of the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, FL. Proceeds from all year-round events are returned to aviation-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, activities and facilities, and used to support on-going scholarship funding

Jackie Jenkins

Communications Coordinator

www.flysnf.org

Visit us online for a year full of events 

& mark your calendar for the 43rd Annual

SUN ’n FUN International Fly-In & Expo

April 4-9 | 2017

The Largest Assembly of P-51 Mustangs to Fly in Over a Decade during the 43rd Annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Exp

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Scott Smith

The Largest Assembly of P-51 Mustangs to Fly in Over a Decade during the 43^rdAnnual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo

(February 16, 2017 Lakeland, FL) Located at the Kissimmee-Gateway airport just outside Orlando, FL, Stallion 51 has long been noted as the nation’s premiere provider of transition training in the famous WWII-era fighter, the North American P-51 Mustang. A unique facility, Stallion 51’s expert staff teach owners and pilots of these historic war machines to operate them safely and efficiently in the modern age. Since Stallion 51 came into being they have attended the annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, bringing their stable of Mustangs to the Warbird Flight line with Mr. Mustang himself, Lee Lauderback flying his signature Solo Mustang Demo routine in the air show. This year, Stallion 51 is celebrating their 30th Anniversary, and they have invited their many Mustang friends to SUN ‘n FUN to help celebrate and commemorate the occasion. 

On Wednesday, April 5^th, 2017 Stallion 51’s invited guests will arrive impressive formation for what is promising to be the largest assembly of P-51 Mustangs in over a decade.

“It’s been over a decade since the world has seen this many P-51 Mustangs in one place at one time,” said Greg Gibson, Air Operations Director for SUN ‘n FUN. “We have the honor of not only hosting them, but helping our friends at Stallion 51 celebrate their 30^th anniversary.”

Not since the famous Gathering of Mustangs and Legends in 2007 in Dayton, Ohio has there been such a showing of the famous Warbird, and with over 7 acres of pristine apron space at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport appropriately named “The Warbird Ramp”, the week-long SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In is the perfect venue for bringing this elite group together. Over 30 are expected, and the excitement over the arrival is building.

Gibson’s enthusiasm for the occasion is readily evident. “It’s a historic event, celebrating one of the most significant aircraft in history. To see them all together is overwhelming, but we have a real treat on Thursday for our SUN ‘n FUN guests: all of them will fly in the airshow at once!”

The flight demonstration will take place on Thursday, April 6^th during the daily airshow, which begins around 2PM. This will coincide with the first appearance of the US Navy Blue Angels, scheduled to fly later that same day.

In 1987, Stallion 51 Corp. established itself as a unique aviation business that specializes in rare expensive vintage aircraft built on the dream and passion of the Lauderback brothers. Lee, Peter, Richard and John are the cornerstone of the Mustang world; restoring, operating and marketing the rarest of the breed. Thousands of people have shared the cockpit with founder and president, Lee Lauderback and his crew through the years, learning about the magic of the Merlin and the mystique behind the Mustang. At SUN ‘n FUN 2017, visitors will get to see the results of their passion as the thunder of Mustangs roar overhead in a spectacular display not to be missed.

For more information on this event, please contact Greg Gibson at GGibson@flysnf.org or call him at 863-644-2431. For more information on attending SUN ‘n FUN, please visit www.flysnf.org. For more information on Stallion 51, visit www.stallion51.com.

Photo credit to Stallion 51 –

Photo credit to Tony Granat Photography