Category Archives: sun and fun
2017 SUN ‘n FUN Numbers
2017 SUN ‘n FUN Numbers
The 43rd Annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo presented by VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association took place April 4 –9, 2017 in Lakeland, Florida. SnF17 was the best fly-in SUN ‘n FUN has ever had. We are pleased to release the following data and fun facts:
• Approximately 200,000 guests attended from over 60 countries
• Brazil, Canada and United Kingdom once again had the highest amount of visitors
• SUN ‘n FUN ordered over 400 Portalets, 18 light towers, 415 golf carts, and 120 tents
• More than 4,000 rolls of toilet paper were used during the week
• SUN ‘n FUN distributed 90,000 bottles of water and approximately 19,000 sandwiches to volunteers
• More than 3,000 volunteers helped during the 6-day event
• HAM Radio worked 39 States, 12 Countries, Canada, Italy, Norway, Estonia are some of them and had a total of 742 worldwide contacts for the 6 days.
• 38 Student tours were conducted with 969 students
• Approximately 400 people attended educational workshops
• 500 Students attended the Blue Angels Symposium
• 10,000 Visitors toured the Piedmont Aerospace Experience, the only working Boeing 727 Classroom on a high school campus
• 7 speakers in the Museum that travelled Mach 3 (3 times the speed of sound) in the iconic SR-71 Blackbird
• 130 Career Minded individuals from 48 states and 3 countries attended our 4th Annual Career Fair with 14 exhibitors
• One astronaut, Senator Bill Nelson, spoke to educators during the Aerospace Educators Workshop
• First ever UAV Demonstration during an Air Show
• 500 People participated in the inaugural Drone Zone
• 443 media representatives attended from 16 countries
• 5,988 people attended 331 forums
• 3,228 People attended 56 workshops
• over 9,000 aircraft movements took place
• 510 Exhibitors participated in the event
SUN ‘n FUN Radio stats:
· Total connections: 21,882 (up 0.5% over 2016)
Total unique listeners: 8,431 (up 0.35% over 2016)
Total unique listeners: 8,431 (up 0.35% over 2016)
· More than 44 hours were live broadcasted over the 6 days
· Approximately 120 Live interviews and 120 field interviews were conducted
Social Media stats:
• Total Reach (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) = over 2.5 million
• Total Impressions = almost 10 million
• Engagement Rate = over 500,000 on Facebook
• Surpassed 80,000 Facebook followers
• Fielded more than 500 direct messages for customer service – and responded to 99% of them in fewer than 20 minutes
Florida Aviation Network stats:
· 82 Volunteers were on the crew and worked throughout the week of SUN ‘n FUN 2017 .
· Broadcasted 45 interviews from our set at the Florida Aviation Museum and shot numerous reports from the field.
Jackie Jenkins
Communications Coordinator
UNFORGETTABLE COMMEMORATION OF DOOLITTLE RAID 75TH ANNIVERSARY AT EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2017
People and airplanes among activities that recall daring World War II mission
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (April 18, 2017) — The lone remaining veteran of the famed Doolittle Raiders mission of April 1942 and at least 16 B-25 bombers will be part of the raid’s 75th anniversary commemoration and air show activities at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The 65th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention, the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” will be held July 24-30.
The 75th anniversary activities will honor those involved in the daring mission that involved 16 B-25 bombers that departed from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942, and bombed military sites in Japan. The “Doolittle Raiders,” led by legendary pilot Jimmy Doolittle, then faced hardships after their airplanes made forced landings in China and other areas.
“The Doolittle Raid 75 years ago was important, not as much for its military gains as it was a morale lift to an American military and public that had been buffeted by bad news in the months immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member benefits who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Our activities at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year will connect our attendees with the importance of this mission, as well as the people and aircraft involved.”
Among the highlights of the 75th anniversary commemoration will be a July 26 evening program with 101-year-old Dick Cole, the only remaining member of the 80 original Doolittle Raiders, as well as Jimmy Doolittle’s grandchildren, Jimmy Doolittle III and Jonna Doolittle Hoppes.
“I want to thank EAA for honoring the Raiders at their 75th anniversary,” said Cole, who was co-pilot for Doolittle in the lead aircraft. “Thank you for paying tribute to us even though we never felt like heroes. We were just doing our job. We can also never forget the men who fought at Wake, Midway, and all across the Pacific. See you at Oshkosh.”
Other highlights include:
n Arrival of at least 16 B-25 bombers at AirVenture by Tuesday, July 25, with the aircraft parked in AirVenture’s warbird area. Notable aircraft already confirmed include Panchito(Delaware Aviation Museum); Briefing Time (Mid-Atlantic Air Museum); Yankee Warrior (Yankee Air Museum); Miss Hap (American Airpower Museum); Barbie III (Cavanaugh Flight Museum); Devil Dog (Commemorative Air Force); and Miss Mitchell (Commemorative Air Force – Minnesota Wing).
n Several programs at the popular Warbirds of America “Warbirds in Review” speaker series.
n Sixteen B-25s flying in the warbirds air show on Tuesday, July 25, and re-enacting the 1942 Doolittle Raid to start the night air show on Wednesday, July 26.
Other highlights will be announced as they are finalized.
About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive lowest prices on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is available at www.twitter.com/EAA.