Sun N Fun Fly In Planning

[planeolbob]

Hi Everyone,
I am planning to go to Sun N Fun for the first time this year. I was thinking about camping or maybe going to an motel. I hope to be there by opening day but it should take at least two days to get there from Kansas.

Does anyone want to meet up and fly in together?

Any tips on the camping would be appreciated. How many of us are going? Any set times the Sonex group does things? Can we camp together?

Bob (Rookie SNF Flyer) Mika

PS. The Ordnance will be stored in their shipping boxes during flight.

[N111YX]

I know the route pretty well from Atlanta, Bob. I'm not certain of the exact days that I'll be there, however. We can stay in touch about that.

Plan to park in "homebuilt camping". Despite being on the front rows of the show, it's pretty boring over at "homebuilt parking", especially at night. There's always food and drink at "camping" with the famous Mary Jane running the show.

Be careful on the way in as there are yayhoos that go to Sun n Fun without knowing the NOTAM and enforcement of the rules are more lax than OSH which makes for more of a free for all environment. Planning is not as good either. I've experienced non-notamed changes to the arrival times while just 20 minutes out. I'd suggest trying to get in BEFORE the airshow. There's too many pilots trying to get in with the last hour before sunset that they allow arrivals.

Usually, they park "interesting" airplanes up front at "camping" and that means us and not RV's! They are a good bunch... :D

[vwglenn]

I'd love to go but I still haven't managed to get the wings back on #600 yet. Not sure I'll be comfortable flying down there until I put some time on the plane and get familiar.

Tips for camping...don't forget TP and insect repellent. LAL can get pretty brutal with the bugs in the evening. Also, the dust can be an issue if you're parked closer to the show where they have the trams buzzing around in the Warbird and Vintage areas. I always parked my old 170 in the GA area because there was less traffic buzzing around my ride.

There is a Florida Sonex fly-in that meets at an airport a few miles north one day during Sun-N-Fun.

Camping together usually means arriving together. I think your best bet would to meet outside the event and follow each other in.

As far as hotels go...Sun-N-Fun used to be booked months if not years in advance so getting a hotel at the last minute was nearly impossible. The show has died off some since EAA stopped sponsoring it. If you intend on going that route you better start making some calls. I,however, find camping to be much more relaxing and fun though. The facilities at the show aren't quite on par with OSH but they are certainly adequate.

I find flying in to both OSH and LAL to be equally supplied with "yahoos." The difference seems to be in the arrival procedures. OSH is a little further from the field and most of the traffic apporaches from the south so you're less stressed out for a longer duration. LAL packs all the excitement in at once with more planes coming from different angles.

I agree with Kip. Get there before the show.

[planeolbob]

It looks like I will be staying in a motel in Tampa.

Bob (No bugs) Mika

[planeolbob]

Hi everyone,
I found out last night that the guy I was going to room with cannot go to SnF. So now, I need either a place to stay or need to camp.
If anyone needs a fairly hygienic room mate please let me know.
My schedule is to arrive on Monday April 20th and stay most of the week.
Fall Back will be camping with the bugs.......

Bob (Bughouse) Mika

[Bob]

I am driving down from VA on Wed. Be there Wed. night and plan on leaving Sat. Was planning on bringing a tent but would share a room with non smoker, non snorer! Bob Xenos #59 builder