Sun n’ Fun Lite

Les Abend

Monday, August 09, 2021 at 03:00 PM ET

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The newer faces of the Blue Angels: Lt. Julius Bratton No. 7 and Lt. Katlin Forster No. 8. Courtesy Les Abend

Key Takeaways:

The author attended the Sun 'n Fun Holiday Flying Festival, where he was particularly impressed by the National STOL Competition, finding short takeoffs and landings to be a captivating spectator sport showcasing exceptional pilot skill.
The festival also featured an appearance by a Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet and a town-hall discussion with leaders from AOPA and EAA, who shared positive outlooks for general aviation despite pandemic challenges, while Sun 'n Fun itself underwent financial restructuring.
A significant concern raised was the observed lack of adherence to advertised COVID-19 safety protocols at the event, including poor social distancing and mask-wearing, which the author felt needed improvement for future events.

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As a longtime contributor to Flying, I have been blessed with the good fortune of attending many events, including airshows. Having spent a career mostly mastering the art of straight-and-level flight in the stratosphere, I have tremendous admiration for the aviators that perform physics-defying maneuvers at stepladder altitudes. I am awed by the skills involved.

That being said, it was refreshing to observe a new type of event that didn’t involve a smoke-infused outside loop or an eardrum-shattering fly-by. On Friday, December 4, 2020, at the Sun ‘n Fun Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show in Lakeland, Florida, I was introduced to the National STOL Competition. It is an event that only reaffirms what pilots already know: Takeoffs and landings are a spectator sport.