Wings, Wheels and Water

SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In, Inc.

For more information contact:

Sandy Bridges, Director

Communications and Public Relations

Mobile 863-712-1897

sbridges@sun-n-fun.org

For Immediate Release, Lakeland, FL

2015 Seaplane Splash-in Cancelled for SAFETY!

Due to record rainfall over the last 6 months, SUN ‘n FUN has made a decision to cancel the Seabird Splash-In that has been held annually on Lake Agnes at Fantasy of Flight during the SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo.  The Lake Agnes water level is more than 2 feet above normal, which unfortunately creates numerous hazards to seaplane operations in the form of hidden obstructions and, very shallow and long approaches to land access.  Additionally, both the dock and ramp at Fantasy of Flight are essentially unusable.

This decision does not come lightly and was made after a recommendation from the SUN ‘n FUN Seabirds Chairman and discussions with Seaplane Pilots Association leadership and others.  Kermit Weeks and the Fantasy of Flight team were ready and willing to support this year’s event and we thank them for their preparation efforts to make it happen.

The SUN ‘n FUN Seabirds Team is working on alternative activities for all seaplane enthusiasts.  A Saturday night dinner at the SUN ’n FUN Seabird area will be held prior to the evening airshow and fireworks and will recognize all of our friends in the seaplane community.  John R. Leenhouts, President & CEO of SUN ‘n FUN added, “Though we sincerely regret having to make this decision, we always put safety first and foremost.”

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Aviation education experiences are offered year-round for students of all ages on the SUN ‘n FUN Convention Campus.  Proceeds from any event at SUN ‘n FUN, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, are returned to STEM-based education programs and activities.  Take time The CAF Red Tail Squadron is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to educating audiences across the country about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel. Their three-fold outreach program includes an authentic, fully restored WWII-era P51C Mustang, the signature aircraft of the Tuskegee Airmen; the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit 53’ mobile theater featuring the original panoramic film “Rise Above”; and educational materials and programs for teachers and youth leaders. The CAF Red Tail Squadron is part of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF).  to visit Aerospace Discovery at the Florida Air Museum with your family.   

For Immediate Release, Lakeland, FL

SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In, Inc.

For more information contact:

Sandy Bridges, Director

Communications and Public Relations

Mobile 863-712-1897

sbridges@sun-n-fun.org

SUN ‘n FUN HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN IN AVIATION

SUN ‘n FUN’s mission is to preserve and enhance the future of flight through world-class events, inspiring and educating people of all ages. People. Of all ages, genders, colors, sizes and shapes.  The examples of women with outstanding individual accomplishments are plentiful and those shown below exhibit clearly that women have played an important role in aviation throughout history and that they still do today. Insuring that more women become inspired to join this high flying industry should be a goal at the top of the list for aviation’s future.

To aid in that cause, SUN ‘n FUN is proud to announce their partnership with Women in Aviation International. Together, they are presenting a luncheon at the 2015 SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo on Friday, April 24, 2015 at noon in the Buehler Aerospace Restoration Center on the SUN ‘n FUN Convention Campus.  Dr. Peggy Chabrian will serve as keynote speaker. A panel of women representing a number of facets of the aerospace industry will include Patty Wagstaff, Angela West, Karin Goulian and more. Students from the Central Florida Aerospace Academy will be in attendance to experience firsthand what their future in aviation might hold.

Women will network with their peers and learn from those who have already excelled in their chosen fields. Women in Aviation International will have representatives who can discuss the benefits of membership. Young women will be inspired by the panel as they discuss their motivation to join the industry, how they overcame barriers, and what path may have given them the best chance for success. It will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate not only how far we have come, but to learn where we have yet to go!

For more information, or to purchase tickets please visit sun-n-fun.org or wai.org. Members of Women in Aviation International will receive a discounted rate.

WOMEN IN AVIATION

When most people think of women in aviation, Amelia Earhart immediately springs to mind. Rightfully so, she was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. Can you name another notable female in the world of aviation? What about E. Lillian Todd, the first woman to design and build an aircraft in 1906? Or Blanche Stuart Scott, who in 1910 flew into history as the first lady to solo an airplane. And don’t forget the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), who served the United States during a critical time in World War II, flying over 60 million miles in all different kinds of military aircraft.

Now fast forward to 2015. Times have changed, and airplanes aren’t only a man’s world anymore. Patty Wagstaff is the first woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic Champion. And she didn’t just do it once; she did it three times! Angela West manages Stallion 51, the world’s premier P-51 Mustang flight operation. Dr. Peggy Chabrian, a pilot, educator and all-around aviation enthusiast has held high-ranking positions at some of the world’s most elite colleges and universities in the aviation industry. In 1994, Chabrian formally established Women in Aviation, International to encourage women to seek opportunities in the industry.

Did you know that even today, the Federal Aviation Administration reports that of the 600,000 active pilots in the US, only six percent are women? On the non-pilot side of the coin, women account for less than five percent of the more than 700,000 aerospace jobs in the country.