Sun N Fun 2018 Photos
A few Sun N Fun 2018 photos. I had a great time, met a lot of great people and saw fantastic aircraft from ultralights to jets! and everything in between.
Category Archives: sun n fun
Which aircraft is best for a “wanna be” Pilot
Which aircraft is best for a “wanna be” Pilot
Q. I am a pilot “wanna be” that attended your “Which aircraft is best for you” seminar. After a week of seminars and walking the flight line at the fly-in, I am convinced that buying an aircraft probably makes the most sense for me.
Which aircraft is for me? I was originally thinking of a Cessna 150 (I am the ‘stable’ personality you mention in your book with a little bit of the ‘driver’ mentality too), but I need to haul two people weighing probably a combined 430 pounds, so I think a 150 might be pushing it a bit.
I found an ad for a 1971 Cessna 172, 6300 TT, 2200 SMOH, and was looking for feedback so I wouldn’t get taken to the cleaners.
I would appreciate any help you can offer since I am completely new to this (the story of the $5,000 airplane definitely made me curious). I do not have my heart set on any one plane, just the ‘being up there’ safely on a tight budget. Looks are not that critical either. I just want to fly whether it is ugly or not.
A. Nice to see you “wanna be” not only a pilot, but an owner too.
As you probably figured out in my presentations and columns, I am a Cessna 172 fan. The 172 models are one of my favorite aircraft. It is hard to buy a bad one, but there are a few considerations. In your situation, the Cessna 150 would probably not be a good choice because of the weight requirement. A Cessna 172 is a better aircraft especially when used as a two person and baggage machine.
The 172 costs slightly more than the 150 to own and operate, but it is still one of the most economical aircraft around and is also a great trainer. Cessna did not reintroduce the 152 when they started back in production in 1997. They introduced the Cessna 172 because it has more flexibility. The 172 can perform as a trainer and a cross-country aircraft. It offers more pilot opportunities and comfort than the 150. The 150/152 models can perform almost all the feats of the 172, except for speed, load and number of seats.
Book prices are just a guideline. It will probably be difficult to buy an aircraft like this for the book price, but at least it will give you a starting point. I would think that the engine could make it a few hours more before needing an overhaul. I would hope it would make it through your training. In that time, you could put away a few bucks for the new engine. Adding a lot of new equipment or new engines will not be a direct dollar for dollar recoup. You will need to fly the aircraft a number of hours (probably 500 or more) to wear off a few of the “new” engine.
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