Sun-N-Fun - The Day Before it Started

Since this was my first ever Sun-N-Fun in my first ever airplane, I just gulped at the $90 convention pass and $80 camping fee with the thought, "Its just a donation". Came here to have fun so lets get started. Actually it was the Tuesday before Wednesday's opening, and no one was checking for wrist bands or camping passes yet anyway.

Walked around the central trade show area and watched the beehive of activity of people unpacking planes and stuff, putting together their displays. Had an easier time chatting with the vendors and seeing the inner working of the unassembled planes than during the show. There were trucks, forklifts, and zillions of golf cart going everywere, so you had to watch your step. The place was just buzzing with excitement. Flying is so much safer.

There was a steady stream of planes of all shapes, sizes, and descriptions comming in on the nearby runway and they had the tower frequency on the PA system. It was interesting to listen to the tower direct traffic, calling out instructions like "Blue Cessna extend you landing farther down the runway and land on the left side, Yellow Piper use the right side,...etc". No one talked to the tower, they just got in line and did what they were told. This was a plane watchers heaven!

Walked by a little shack with the sign "Volunteer Center and Lost and Found". Read on their website that you get "Special Recognition" if you volunteer some time. Figured I would have some extra time so went up and ask about it. They said, "How would you like to conduct some school tours?". I said "Sure, I know my planes and love to talk about them." He then said "That doesn't start till tomorrow, but today we can use some help on the warbirds flightline." So came my first golf cart ride to HQ to sign up. After filling in the form, they handed me a green volunteer wrist band and said "This will get you around everywher. There are volunteer tents at various locations with drinks and mystery meat sanwiches". I was stunned, didn't volunteer to get anything, but they just handed me a $90 convention pass.

At the flightline they gave me a bright orange cap with "Warbirds Line Crew" on the front. Got to work moving cases of soda, moving Gator carts around, installing the blinking lights on them, and general gopher work. The reward was to watch the warbirds taxi in, up close enough to hear an smell those big engines while they are hot and running. Know how a 5 year old feels at Disneyland. Saw a pilot loading a passenger in his P51 for a hop. Was close enough to touch it when he fired up that big V12 Merlin. Heard the first cylinders fire, saw the puffs of smoke, and felt the blast from the huge 4 bladed prop when it caught. Would of paid $190 just for this experiance alone!

This was just the day before Sun-N-Fun started.

Thanks, Bruce King

100% + 125hrs