Sun-N-Fun - 2 Days

The next two days at Sun-N-Fun went very fast. It was a bit cold the first night in sunny Florida, with an unusual freeze warning, so if it looked like I slept in my clothes, you were right. Woke up both days at the crack of dawn to the sound of 2 stroke engines. Stuck my head out of the tent and saw a parade of paraplanes taking advantage of the still morning air. Walked down to the food court and got my first $6 breakfast, then started talking to some of the vendors just getting opened up for the first day's activities.

Stopped at the Jabaru display and got a good look at what looks to be a beautifully constructed engine. With 85 hp and less weight than my full VW, it would make the Silver Surfer really go. The $8500 price tag is not bad for a new dual ignition engine that is certifed in Australia. They have four, six, and even an eight! Everywhere there was something neat to look at, new stuff and old junk everwhere.

Before I knew it time came to go to the school tour tent and pick the days group. The first was a small group of mentally challenged students, but they were more interested the planes and better behaved than the second day's group. It is fun to walk around, pointing and talking about planes. It also was a good excuse to make a lap of the whole grounds and see what was happening. Many planes were still arriving so each time you went back there was something new to see. Over in the vintage aircraft was an AirCamper that was decorated something like an pirate ship. The wood was all antiqued and it was covered with nautical decorations. The best part was the old style railroad lanterns he used for wingtip lights!

The ultralight area was really a happening place everytime we passed. Saw Morrey's blue original Hummel Bird, the Ultra Cruiser, and the fuselage of the Ultra Cruiser Plus. The Plus is going to be a neat bird, roomy with a clever adjustable seat back. It should really go with that fat wing and a full VW. It was fun to watch all the varietys of ultralights fly by with their high pitched 2 strokes, the watch peoples heads turn when the Ultra Cruiser go thumping by on the 1/2 WV.

Ended up missing all the seminars I wanted to see, but I did get to see Morrey Hummel, Scott Castler, and Steve Bennet long enough to greet them. David Roe left a nice note in my plane, sorry I missed him. Would like to fly on his wing tip sometime too. Next time I am going to put my cell phone number on the plane.

The tours ended around noon, so by the time lunch was done you had only a little time to mill around before the daily airshow began. They started with warbird displays, much like the Confederate - opps! not politically correct - I mean the Commererative Airforce. Fighters swoop low, while ground attack aircraft fake dropping bombs while they blow up ordinance on the ground. Many aerobatic displays follow. Such a difference between the styles. Classic round engine biplanes roar by while doing graceful smooth routines. The ultra modern aerobatic planes do as much of the show verticle, looking much like a radio control pattern ship. Some of the tail slides and tumbleing tricks they do look impossible. In my opinion, the best act was the AeroShell four ship T6 team. They did their whole routine over the runway at low altitude without leaving the airport boundry. The Blue Angels used to do that type of show when they were flying the A4s, now they and the Thunderbirds just zip by from out of site one way to the other.

The show ends at 5. After a little more looking around its time to eat that $3.50 hamburger I learned to know and love. The first night I went to the "Corn Roast" and ate the best ear of corn ever while listening to a live band. Know the food is expensive, but here in San Antonio, at the new SBC Center where the Spurs play there is nothing available to eat or drink for less than $6. Most Sun-N-Fun food is less than that, but still expensive.

In respect for my age, turned in early so I would have more energy. Was really just getting started in on the fun, with three days left to go. Did not know that I would be leaving suddenly after the airshow on Thursday, but that is the next part of the story.

Thanks, Bruce King

100% + 127 hrs + 2200 mile trip