Making 3 Flights in 3 Days at Sun ’n Fun

A pilot shares their experiences with the Carbon Cub UL, Titan Aerobatic Team T-6, and S-211 Marchetti jet at the annual aerospace expo.

Cayla McLeod

Monday, April 07, 2025 at 03:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Cayla McLeod flies with the TITAN Aerobatic Team during Sun 'n Fun. [Courtesy: Cayla McLeod]

Key Takeaways:

The author experienced three distinct flights at Sun 'n Fun, starting with the CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL, which impressed with its powerful, near-vertical climb and remarkably low fuel consumption of 4-5 gallons per hour.
A long-held dream came true with a formation aerobatic flight in a T-6 Texan, part of the Titan Aerobatic Team, characterized by the roar of radial engines and smoothly choreographed maneuvers.
An unexpected opportunity arose to fly in an S-211 Marchetti jet with Victory Flight Training, highlighting its professional operation, quiet power, responsive controls, and the unique, sustained nature of G-forces in a jet, which proved challenging.
Each flight offered a vastly different "flying" experience, from the high-performance backcountry characteristics of the Carbon Cub UL to the nostalgic thrill of warbird aerobatics in the T-6 and the distinct dynamics of a military jet.

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If you’re familiar with the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, you’ll know that this isn’t a show where the manufacturers, exhibitors, and/or alphabet organizations tend to roll out their latest and greatest, so this article won’t be focusing on any newsworthy-specific items.

However, what it will be focusing on is three vastly different flight experiences that I had the pleasure of taking part in throughout the week. A story about FLYING, if you will.