Register

Flying Into Sun ‘n Fun

The author after a silent arrival at Lakeland. Courtesy Les Abend
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author, a retired airline pilot, recounts his decision to fly his plane to Sun 'n Fun for the first time, meticulously preparing for its unique and challenging radio-silent arrival procedures.
  • He shares a humorous anecdote from his early career as a commuter pilot, detailing how he accidentally flew a passenger's cat to the wrong destination and personally reunited it with its owner.
  • Despite some in-flight deviations from published NOTAMs, the author successfully navigated the busy Sun 'n Fun airspace and landed, reflecting on the unique "sounds of silence" of the arrival experience.
See a mistake? Contact us.

After moving full time to northern Florida, attending Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland was an easy proposition. My Connecticut friends were making the traditional trek from the Northeast, which made the event even more desirable. They are a motley crew with diverse experience levels from aerobatics to corporate jets, with me being the only airline pilot. The camaraderie includes standard verbal abuse, our primary method to ­indicate genuine affection for each other.

Les Abend

Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE