Wild Weather at Sun 'n Fun

By Ed Downs
Photos Courtesy of EAA

(EAA Photo)This April edition of In Flight USA is going to press just as information is being received regarding a severe storm, now being reported as an F1 Tornado that hit the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In and Air Show site at Lakeland’s Linder Regional Airport. It is now known that some 15 attendees and/or exhibitors received injuries ranging from minor scrapes and abrasions to broken bones. Forty to 50 aircraft were seriously damaged or destroyed. These aircraft included those on display by vendors and many visitor airplanes, including homebuilts and classics. Numerous vendor tents and displays were destroyed. The staff at In Flight USA wishes to extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery from personal injuries and a (EAA Photo)successful financial recovery from the enormous financial strain such a disaster places on all affected.

Our April cover, the Legend Cub, an S-LSA manufactured by American Legend Aviation of Sulfur Springs, Texas, represents a snapshot of the courage and tenacity of the vendors who have been hit hard by this storm. Dave Graham, Director of Marketing for American Legend, commented, “We knew storms were on the way and secured everything the best we could. When it did hit, there was little warning. Our team rushed inside our display tent and hung on for dear life. I can now say that I have soloed a tent!” When asked about specific damage, Dave added, “our tent survived, more by accident than planning, but both of our display planes received fabric damage. While recovering will be needed at the factory, temporary repairs will allow us to fly home. We still have three show days left, and everyone is pitching in to help all of us make the best out of a bad situation.” Pat Hartley of DRE Electronics was in vendor building “D” when the storm hit. According to Pat, “we got a last minute warning to close the buildings doors and took cover as the winds roared outside. A few minutes later we opened the doors to a landscape that looked like a battle field.” This reporter’s conversation with Pat was cut short when he suddenly yelled, “do you hear that!” and hung up. What this reporter heard was the sound of violent rain thundering against the metal roof of building “D”. A later call to the show site discloses that all inside vendors had fared well.

Early photos of the destruction are heartbreaking. Speaking from this reporter’s personal experience, insurance will not cover all of the physical damage cost incurred by the industry folks who work so hard to display their products to aviation enthusiasts. Readers should be mindful that the cost of show space, personnel lodgings, delivery of airplanes from far off destinations and other administrative costs are seldom insured and can range between $20,000 and $40,000, in some cases much higher.

In Flight USA wishes to open our pages for editorial comment from those who have experienced losses at the 2011 Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In. Let us tell your customers how you are doing and what your customer base can do to help. Send us news announcements regarding your recovery or special sales you may implement to recover lost resources. Individual attendees who lost aircraft are also invited to share their experiences through our publication. In Flight USA has long held to our basic mission statement, “Your Partner in Aviation.” Let us be just that.