Category Archives: Piper

SUN ‘n FUN Welcomes Full Honda Product Lineup, Including HondaJet

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SUN ‘n FUN Welcomes Full Honda Product Lineup, Including HondaJet
Lakeland, FL – The annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo is famous for being “Spring Break for Pilots”, bringing thousands of aviation enthusiasts from all over the world to Lakeland Linder Airport in Lakeland, Florida for 43 years. This year, Honda is teaming up with SUN ‘n FUN and Banyan Air Service to bring a unique and spectacular display. Known for its innovative and premium quality products across multiple industries, the Honda brand will be well represented in several exhibits and activities including, for the first time at SUN ‘n FUN, the fully certified HondaJet.
Honda Power Equipment has been a major sponsor and supporter of SUN ‘n FUN for many years, hosting a regular exhibit, supplying generators, remote lighting, landscaping power tools, and other critical equipment to help the SUN ‘n FUN organizers prepare for and service their massive event. For 2017, they will add an exciting display of Honda Power Sports and Honda Marine products to their area in the main Exhibit complex, and, in partnership with Banyan Air Service, they will host an airside display.
Banyan Air is excited to provide the first SUN ‘n FUN appearance of the HondaJet. The beautiful, recently certified HondaJet, world-renowned for its “Ultimate Balance of Innovation and Inspiration” will be joined by the Honda Generators-sponsored Race 90 T-6, a perennial top finisher at the storied “Fastest Motorsport on Earth” held at Stead Field, Nevada each year, along with Honda Marine, Honda Power Sports and Honda Auto exhibit on the Runway 5/23 display area showcasing the amazing depth of Honda products.
“We are truly excited to bring the wide array of Honda’s product lineup to SUN ‘n FUN 2017,” said Tom Pernice, Sr. Marketing Specialist for Honda Power Equipment. “Honda Power Equipment has been involved with SUN n FUN for years, but now show goers can see and appreciate the many items Honda manufactures, all in one place at an amazing venue. It is going to be really fun.”
Mike O’Keeffe, Senior Vice President of Banyan Air Service of Ft. Lauderdale, oversees the sales of the HondaJet as the regional dealer for the sleek new business aircraft. “SUN ‘n FUN is a great event, and we are very pleased to be a part of it this year to introduce the HondaJet to show attendees,” he said in a recent statement.
“Seeing it fly up close will really give people an excellent perspective of the cutting edge technology, refined and impressive performance. The SUN ‘n FUN airshow environment really lets the HondaJet show off.”
And fly it will, according to Greg Gibson, SUN ‘n FUN Director of Operations and Business Development. “SUN ‘n FUN is the perfect venue for the HondaJet to be presented. We have an educated and demanding crowd that expects to see the cutting-edge technology of today as well as the finest of aviation’s history, so we really have a treat for them this year. Honda is a great sponsor and supporter, and we are thrilled to have the HondaJet in the air and on display”
Gibson confirmed that not only will the HondaJet fly in the daily flyby showcase prior to the aerobatic airshow, but that it will be joined by the Race 90 T6 in a unique formation appearance of Honda branded aircraft.
On the ground product side, Honda will introduce Miimo, their new robotic lawn mower, which will be in operation at the Honda display near the Sunset Grille. The exhibit will display products from Honda Power Equipment, Honda Marine, and Honda Power Sports., In addition, attendees have the opportunity to register to win some great Honda prizes, including a Honda EU2000i Generator, a ride with the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, a Big Green Egg Prize Package, or a Richard Petty NASCAR Driving Experience.
Patrons can also look for Honda Charging Stations around the grounds. “Honda Power is there when and where you need it,” said Pernice, “so if you need to charge your mobile phone, camera or any other hand held electronic device, feel free to plug in for all the power you need to enjoy capturing and sharing the excitement at this year’s SUN ‘n FUN.”

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 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.

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

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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 43rdannual 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
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

Do most aircraft sell for base book value?

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 Question.  I have read your book *”How to Buy a Single Engine Airplane” and learned a great deal.  One question I have is that since you have done so many plane transactions, you made mention that you see most planes go close to the base retail price as noted on Vref? 
Is it still a buyer’s market? If that is still true, would a better deal be below base retail?  As I look at pre-owned planes I want to make sure I don’t pay too much.  Thanks for your advice if you have time to answer this email.
Answer. Thanks for the email. I personally think that it is still a buyer’s market.  I am still seeing a slight increase in sales, but the market still seems to be slower than it has been in years past.  I’ll guess that a lot of people have an opinion about this.  I also see a lot of prices when we are insuring aircraft purchases.  I try and keep an eye on the values of the new transaction and compare them to the book to see what the buyers are paying. And the underwriters will question a value that is too high or too low. 
Remember, this is my opinion about the market. 
I think that many of the aircraft advertised are overpriced and now that the investment and aviation markets seem to be growing again, the sellers are reluctant to lower their prices for a sale and risk losing money.   Additionally, fairly low interest rates will allow sellers to keep a higher price.  The sales pitch is that the payments will still be low.
My guess is that the seller will try and wait for the higher price BUT, even then, it appears that most of the aircraft end up selling for a price that is around the base values listed in the books.
The Vref base value takes into account the average number of hours that the aircraft should have on the airframe and engine at the time of sale.  The base price also includes a standard radio package for the model and an average condition.  That is probably representative of over 50 percent of the aircraft on the market.  So the base price is probably representative of over 50 percent of the aircraft for sale.  Sure, you can add for low engine time and low airframe, but it all seems to balance back towards the base price.  A plane with a low total time, say 1,500 hours, will get an increase in value for the hours.  But if the engine has 1,500 hours on it also (and a 2,000 TBO) the book will reduce the value for the engine hours over the halfway point of 1,000 hours.  Typically, the value of the engine per hour is higher than the airframe per hours.
Of course, if you have an aircraft that is loaded with all kinds of fancy modifications or avionics, the price will probably not be close to the base book values.  But on the average, basic book values are pretty close.

*The book “How to Buy a Single Engine Airplane” is out of print.  
But email me for a packet of buyers tips.