Spring into health with us! Our primary care providers are here to keep you and your family healthy whether you need a sick visit or a routine check-up. As a Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group patient, you have access to more than 340 providers in over 40 specialties at more than 20 locations!
Ready to find a primary care provider who’s right for you? Visit myLRH.org/Care or call 863.284.5000 to make an appointment.
For over 37 years, the love for our senior residents has grown deeper year after year. Discover your next “true love” with endless opportunities to enjoy life to the fullest. Call 863-455-7269 or scan the QR code to plan a visit and feel the warmth and love at The Estates.
1001 Carpenters Way | Lakeland, FL 33809
EstatesAtCarpenters.com
40
2024 Event Calendar
Keep this issue on your coff ee table for the rest of the year so you don’t miss the opportunity to experience something truly amazing.
62
A Half Century Ascent
Th e pioneering spirit of many and all hands-ondeck approach turned something fun and local into a global phenomenon that turns 50 this year.
82
First Class Fleet Lakeland will be home for a week to an incredible assortment of aircraft that tell stories from decades past and highlight engineering feats that point toward a bright future.
88
Aviation is for Everyone
Passion and dedication–two ingredients that can make the sky the limit for locals pursuing a career in aviation.
16 MASTHEAD
18 EDITOR’S NOTE
20 THE BUZZ
22 CONTRIBUTORS
24 METRO
40 2024 EVENT CALENDAR
62 SUN ’N FUN TURNS 50
70 FUTURE OF FLIGHT
82 GET READY FOR THE FIRST CLASS FLEET
88 AVIATION IS FOR EVERYONE
98 HISTORY
PUBLISHER
Curt Patterson
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OPERATIONS
Jason Jacobs EDITOR, CONTENT STRATEGIST
RJ Walters
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jonathan Sierra
VP, FINANCE
Deb Patterson
GENERAL COUNSEL
Ted W. Weeks IV
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Curt Patterson | 863.409.2449
ADVERTISING SALES
Jason Jacobs | 863.606.8785
Sharon Blackburn | 813.789.4361
EDITORIAL DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER
Jordan Randall
CONTRIBUTORS
Adam Spafford
Jenna MacFarlane
Alexa Estevez
CREATIVE
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Briana Chenot
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jordan Randall
CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Jason Jacobs
DISTRIBUTION
David Heideman
ASI type this, I can hear my father-in-law inside the confines of Joker Marchant Stadium gravelling about how clearly the managers don’t care about winning spring training games as they substitute in and out pitchers quicker than my 10-year-old daughter recalls the lyrics of a Taylor Swift song.
I can feel the camaraderie of hundreds of people singing off-key to one of their favorite songs within the intimate setting of The Polk Theatre.
I can smell the aroma of bacon on brisket on pork on the grill at Lakeland Pigfest.
I can see my now 13-year-old son crossing the finish line victorious at the Red Ribbon Run at Lake Mirror.
Lakeland is often called a city with a small town feel. I prefer to liken us to the delectable cream between two Oreo cookies—also known as Orlando and Tampa—because in some ways we remain hidden, but are oh so sweet!
We have the small town charm thanks to staples like the Downtown Farmers Curb Market, homemade floats and local celebrities who light up the night for the annual Christmas Parade, and weekly and monthly gatherings that create a tightknit fabric in our community.
But we are not the same as we were a decade ago, evidenced by the fact we have country music stars like Dylan Scott and Sara Evans kicking off the homegrown SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo this year and people now travel from all over to experience an exceptional showcase of art at Mayfaire-by-the-Lake.
It’s a funny thing to try and be big and small at the same time. I hear friends talk about how they wish more national recording artists would put on concerts in Lakeland, and at the same time it’s normal to lament sitting in traffic for longer on your way to events and
wondering if you’ll find parking easily. We attempted to be “home” to the Lakeland Magic G-League basketball team and Florida Tropics of the Major Arena Soccer League, yet at the end of the day fan support was lackluster or inconsistent at best.
As you peruse the calendar of some of the top events to enjoy in our city, we know we didn’t catch them all—and part of the reason is because contracts are being finalized and decisions being made even as you read this—but that’s OK, because it’s kind of fun to live someplace where something special might just pop up at a moment’s notice.
Lakeland is not just a place that continues to add fun, exciting and interesting events to the calendar, it is a community that shines bright because every time you go out and experience something for the first time or for the 50th time (we see you SUN ’n FUN) you might run into an old friend or make a new friend—and that means an event worth remembering can happen any time, any day.
RJ Walters EDITOR
I am a curious writer with a heart for people, and I love creating a space for small business', athletes or students to have their story told. Everything I do is to see a smile on someone's face— whether that's designing a poster for a classmate, capturing candid photos at different events, managing projects with my co-workers, or coordinating fun activities for our football games.
I am a Southeastern University (SEU) student majoring in multimedia journalism with a minor in graphic design. Along with my studies, I work two student jobs at SEU: digital marketing manager and athletic production manager.
Adam came to Lakeland in 1999 to attend Florida Southern College and, except for a 20-month graduate school stint in Massachusetts, has been here since.
When he’s not writing page-turners for The Lakelander, he trades stock and index options.
Hailing from Sarasota, Jenna MacFarlane is a Southeastern University graduate who fell in love with Lakeland when she arrived.
Jenna earned a degree in communications and is passionate about her craft; she believes the highest form of art is hope and seeks to communicate it in every piece she writes.
@jenna_macfarlane
With prize money up for grabs and nearly 150 artists in the lineup, Mayfaire-by-the-Lake is gearing up for another banner year.
WRITTEN BY ALEXA ESTEVEZ
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY POLK MUSEUM OF ART
DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT
ayfaire by-the-Lake is returning for the 52nd consecutive year, featuring artwork from local and nationally recognized artists and offering people the opportunity to immerse themselves in art with the beautiful backdrop of Lake Morton, as well enjoy activities at the Polk Museum of Art and Lakeland Public Library.
This admission free event—which is put on by the Polk Museum of Art with the help of title sponsors Citizens Bank and Trust, and The Ruthvens, and in partnership with the City of Lakeland—is a Mother’s Day weekend tradition for people of all ages and abilities including food trucks, live music, and transportation from Mayfaire golf carts with wheelchair accessibility, and The Squeeze.
This year’s Mayfaire will host more than 150 artists showcasing jewelry, paintings, sculptures and more. Also on display will be the “Icons of Americana” exhibition located at the Polk Museum of Art.
“We're really excited that so many audiences can come through to see the work of Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth” said Dr. H. Alexander Rich, Executive Director & Chief Curator of the museum.
This year's Mayfaire Judge is Jessica Kay Ruhle, a former Lakelander, who currently lives in Billings, Mont., where she serves as Executive Director of the Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM).
Ruhle was born and raised in Lakeland. Growing up, her grandmother, Gerrye West, was a docent at the museum, so she grew up visiting the Polk Museum of Art and enjoying activities like summer camps.
“I felt really at home at the Polk. It was a space that I always loved,” said Ruhle, “but when I left for college, I never thought about museums as a professional space or as somewhere where I would end up working.”
When Ruhle graduated with an art history degree she was unsure about what her future held. But with a college professor’s recommendation to consider an internship at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA). “I happened to get assigned work in their education department, and I just found that was my absolute love.”
It was during her internship at the NCMA that she began to understand how fortunate she was to have grown up with the Polk Museum of Art as such a regular part of her life.
Not only did the Polk Museum of Art impact Ruhle’s future career, but she also has fond memories from Mayfaire.
“I grew up going to Mayfaire,” said Ruhle, “It was always part of our Mother's Day weekend. I definitely loved chasing the swans. Always, always a favorite.”
But what Ruhle said she remembers most fondly was the education tent. “They always had a component for young folks to also make their own work and feel like they were part of the process.”
The education tent is still at Mayfaire, known as the “kids zone” and located on Chiles Street, directly next to the library lawn, open both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Within the kids zone is also a tent called Kids Collect, a program the museum started three years ago, where kids ages 6-14 can shop donated artwork from Mayfaire artists. All proceeds are donated back to the museum's summer camp program, providing scholarships for children to attend.
Each year, Mayfaire selects a diff erent artist to create a signature image for the festival’s poster and t-shirt. Th is year's signature artwork was created by Heather Naggy, a professional artist who lives in Orlando, and who fi rst participated in Mayfaire last year. “It was such an encouragement to receive the call, that after seeing my work last year they wanted me to create something special for this year’s poster,” Naggy said. “I’m honored that my work will be the face of the festival this year.”
Naggy said she spent a day exploring Lakeland in order to “create something specific for the poster.” After exploring our town, Naggy proposed several ideas for the image, and was excited the Mayfaire hosts chose the one they did—one that features wood storks.
“While the swans are iconic to the city, I enjoyed seeing the wood storks. Th ey were on their way to extinction not too long ago, but are making a comeback and thriving,” she said. “Th ey represent a resiliency and an example of the beauty of diverse species sharing spaces.”
Th e event kicks off, May 10, at 7 p.m. with the MidFlorida Mayfaire 5k Race starting at Lake Mirror Auditorium. Participants can sign up at, lakelandrunnersclub.org, with a portion of the proceeds benefi ting the museum.
For more details on parking, ADAassistance, and the festival visit MayfairebytheLake.org
“They always had a component for young folks to also make their own work and feel like they were part of the process.”
WRITTEN BY JENNA MACFARLANE
PHOTOS BY ALLEE CYRUS, HEIDI MICHELLE PHOTOGRAPHY, DARK WHITE STUDIOS
DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT
DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WELCOME DEVELOPMENTS
A duo of brothers from New York City are bringing a new twist on tranquil living to Lakeland.
fter 15 years developing real estate in New York City, brothers and business partners Shlomo and David Sinay wanted a fresh start —they wanted to build a community living space that truly felt like home.
Th ey envisioned something entirely diff erent from what they typically developed in Brooklyn—close-quartered, concrete-walled apartment buildings that saw guests rotate in and out like a revolving door. Th ey wanted to develop something more meaningful, a wellness-focused apartment complex that encourages truly living at home—not just sleeping there. So, they came to Lakeland.
Welcome Canary is a 160-unit luxury multifamily apartment complex opening soon in west Lakeland. It’s so much more than a cluster of apartments; it’s a true community with amenities that make life more tranquil.
When Shlomo and David decided to pursue the idea of a wellness-focused complex, they traveled across the country to scout locations. It would become their fi rst development project outside NYC, and it was important they fi nd just the right place to break ground. Th ey researched cities that might welcome a new development like the one they envisioned, visiting Arizona, Texas and Ohio before they landed in Florida.
Th eir fi rst instinct was to purchase a property in Tampa or Orlando—but once they visited Lakeland, Shlomo and David changed their plans. Th ey found a vibrant community here, fi lled with people who love the place they live and want to take care of it.
Shlomo said, for him, of all things, the swans on Lake Morton sealed the deal. “It showed me that Lakeland is a community that cares,” he said. “It cares for nature and wildlife. Th at spoke to me.”
After that day, Lakeland’s natural beauty informed the architectural design, the decor, and development decisions of the complex located just off of New Tampa Highway. With peacefulness as its priority, Welcome Canary revolves around outdoor living. “We want you to look out the window instead of at the TV,” Shlomo said—and Welcome Canary’s lake views accomplish just that.
Life at Welcome Canary is a blend of laid-back and elevated, totally integrated with its environment. Both interior and exterior design is minimal and earthy, intended to draw people outdoors, where its best amenities lie—a sculpted pool, running trail, hammocks, a community bonfire and vegetable
IT SHOWED ME THAT LAKELAND IS A COMMUNITY THAT CARES...
YOU SHOULD LOVE BEING HOME. IT SHOULD BE A RESPITE FROM STRESS, FROM EVERYTHING ELSE.
garden, and docks on the lake are just some of what this complex has to offer.
“You should love being home. It should be a respite from stress, from everything else,” Shlomo said, describing how they designed the complex to feel like a retreat when you come home at the end of a long day. Inside, residents enjoy amenities like a gym, wellness center, a zen den with infrared light therapy, and cozy community lounge areas.
During development, Shlomo and David spent hours in meeting rooms with the Lunz Group team, mapping out a plan to make this complex as beautiful and functional as possible. Throughout the process, the brothers learned that Lakeland’s leadership fosters momentum and growth without compromising on community values. Shlomo credited organizations like the Lakeland Economic Development Council and Mayor Bill Mutz for being endlessly supportive of the project, from start to finish.
“Any developer that’s looking to build in Florida should come to Lakeland fi rst,” Shlomo said. “No city will be more eager to help you.”
Th ough Shlomo and David don’t live in Lakeland, they’ve integrated with the community in a way that’s authentic and true. Th ey hold a lot of respect for us and the unique benefi ts of small-town life in a highgrowth area.
when Publix Employees Federal Credit Union was established in 1957.
PEFCU continues to honor Mr. George’s mission by supporting Publix associates’ personal financial needs at every step of their journey. PEFCU was built by Publix associates for Publix associates.
When asked if he’d visited Bonnet Springs Park yet, Shlomo spoke about it with much affection.
“If David Bunch—Bonnet Springs visionary— ever came to Welcome Canary and said that he liked it, I’ll know I did a good job,” he laughed.
Shlomo says seeing the interest the community has already shown for this development makes him proud. This project in Lakeland is the most meaningful project he and his brother have ever worked on—and seeing it all come together is gratifying.
Welcome Canary embodies everything that’s beautiful about our city: that even as we shift and grow, Lakeland will strive to be what it always was—a welcoming place to put down roots, filled with people who truly care.
Welcome Canary
1030 Browning Rd, Lakeland, FL 33811
(863) 272-1033
WelcomeCanary.com
4.05 @ DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
4.06 @ DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
4.07 @ DUNEDIN 12:00 PM
4.09 VS BRADENTON 6:30 PM
4.10 VS BRADENTON 6:00 PM
4.11 VS BRADENTON 11:00 AM
4.12 VS BRADENTON 6:30 PM
4.13 VS BRADENTON 6:00 PM
4.14 VS BRADENTON 12:00 PM
4.16 @ PALM BEACH 5:00 PM
4.17 @ PALM BEACH 6:30 PM
4.18 @ PALM BEACH 6:30 PM
4.19 @ PALM BEACH 6:30 PM
4.20 @ PALM BEACH 6:00 PM
4.21 @ PALM BEACH 12:00 PM
4.23 @ TAMPA 6:30 PM
4.24 @ TAMPA 6:30 PM
4.25 @ TAMPA 6:30 PM
4.26 @ TAMPA 6:30 PM
4.27 @ TAMPA 6:30 PM
4.28 @ TAMPA 12:00 PM
4.30 VS CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
5.01 VS CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
5.02 VS CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
5.03 VS CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
5.04 VS CLEARWATER 6:00 PM
5.05 VS CLEARWATER 12:00 PM
5.07 @ DAYTONA 6:35 PM
5.08 @ DAYTONA 6:35 PM
5.09 @ DAYTONA 6:35 PM
5.10 @ DAYTONA 6:35 PM
5.11 @ DAYTONA 6:35 PM
5.12 @ DAYTONA 5:00 PM
5.14 VS FORT MEYERS 6:30 PM
5.15 VS FORT MEYERS 6:30 PM
5.16 VS FORT MEYERS 6:30 PM
6.01 @ CLEARWATER 6:00 PM
6.02 @ CLEARWATER 12:00 PM
5.17 VS FORT MEYERS 6:30 PM
5.18 VS FORT MEYERS 6:00 PM
5.19 VS FORT MEYERS 12:00 PM
5.21 VS PALM BEACH 6:30 PM
5.22 VS PALM BEACH 6:30 PM
5.23 VS PALM BEACH 6:30 PM
5.24 VS PALM BEACH 6:30 PM
5.25 VS PALM BEACH 6:00 PM
5.26 VS PALM BEACH 12:00 PM
5.28 @ CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
5.29 @ CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
6.04 VS JUPITER 6:30 PM
6.05 VS JUPITER 6:30 PM
6.06 VS JUPITER 6:30 PM
6.07 VS JUPITER 6:30 PM
6.08 VS JUPITER 6:00 PM
6.09 VS JUPITER 12:00 PM
6.11 @ FORT MEYERS 7:05 PM
6.12 @ FORT MEYERS 7:05 PM
6.13 @ FORT MEYERS 7:05 PM
6.14 @ FORT MEYERS 7:05 PM
6.15 @ FORT MEYERS 6:05 PM
5.30 @ CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
5.31 @ CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
6.16 @ FORT MEYERS 12:05 PM
6.18 @ BRADENTON 5:30 PM
6.19 @ BRADENTON 11:00 PM
6.20 @ BRADENTON 6:30 PM
6.21 @ BRADENTON 6:30 PM
6.22 @ BRADENTON 6:30 PM
6.23 @ BRADENTON 12:00 PM
6.25 VS DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
6.26 VS DUNEDIN 6:00 PM
6.27 VS DUNEDIN 11:00 PM
6.28 VS DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
6.29 VS DUNEDIN 6:00 PM
6.30 VS DUNEDIN 12:00 PM
7.01 @ TAMPA 6:30 PM
7.02 @ TAMPA 6:30 PM
7.03 @ TAMPA 6:30 PM
7.04 VS TAMPA 5:00 PM
7.05 VS TAMPA 6:30 PM
7.06 VS TAMPA 6:00 PM
7.09 @ ST LUCIE 6:10 PM
7.10 @ ST LUCIE 6:10 PM
7.11 @ ST LUCIE 6:10 PM
7.12 @ ST LUCIE 6:10 PM
7.13 @ ST LUCIE 6:10 PM
7.14 @ ST LUCIE 12:10 PM
7.19 VS DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
7.20 VS DUNEDIN 6:00 PM
7.21 VS DUNEDIN 12:00 PM
7.23 @ BRADENTON 6:30 PM
7.24 @ BRADENTON 6:30 PM
7.25 @ BRADENTON 6:30 PM
7.26 @ BRADENTON 6:30 PM
7.27 @ BRADENTON 6:30 PM
7.28 @ BRADENTON 12:00 PM
SCAN TO PURCHASE TICKETS
8.01 VS TAMPA 6:30 PM
8.02 VS TAMPA 6:30 PM
8.03 VS TAMPA 6:00 PM
8.04 VS TAMPA 12:00 PM
8.06 VS CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
8.07 VS CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
8.08 VS CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
8.09 VS CLEARWATER 6:30 PM
8.10 VS CLEARWATER 6:00 PM
8.11 VS CLEARWATER 12:00 PM
8.13 @ FORT MEYERS 7:05 PM
8.14 @ FORT MEYERS 7:05 PM
8.15 @ FORT MEYERS 7:05 PM
8.16 @ FORT MEYERS 7:05 PM
7.30 VS TAMPA 6:30 PM
7.31 VS TAMPA 6:30 PM
8.17 @ FORT MEYERS 6:05 PM
8.18 @ FORT MEYERS 12:05 PM
8.20 VS BRADENTON 6:30 PM
8.21 VS BRADENTON 6:30 PM
8.22 VS BRADENTON 6:30 PM
8.23 VS BRADENTON 6:30 PM
8.24 VS BRADENTON 6:00 PM
8.25 VS BRADENTON 12:00 PM
8.27 @ DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
9.01 @ DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
9.03 VS FORT MEYERS 6:30 PM
9.04 VS FORT MEYERS 6:30 PM
9.05 VS FORT MEYERS 6:30 PM
9.06 VS FORT MEYERS 6:30 PM
9.07 VS FORT MEYERS 6:00 PM
9.08 VS FORT MEYERS 12:00 PM
8.28 @ DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
8.29 @ DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
8.30 @ DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
8.31 @ DUNEDIN 6:30 PM
18-20
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For half a century people have been looking up at SUN ’n FUN—now one of the premiere aviation expos in the world that intertwines incredible feats of engineering, gifted pilots, educational opportunities and entertainment— but Suzy Eickhoff fondly remembers a time when aviation enthusiasts had their eyes looking down and their hands in the dirt.
“We would fly over [from St. Petersburg] on the weekends and work like crazy; we’d get dirty—and we pretty much cleared land by hand,” she recalls about the early 1970s on the grounds of what was then called Lakeland Municipal Airport. “We would bring food and have a cookout, and the guys from Vero Beach would bring their guitars and play music, and it became a family thing on the weekends.”
Bill Eickhoff, Suzy’s husband of 55 years, said no one went to the airport in the pre-flyin years “because it was out in the sticks.”
It’s fitting that Suzy is the chairman of the Pioneers Club, a group that is celebrating the 50th fly-in this April with a special luncheon and parade.
What started as a gathering of some friends who were part of local chapters of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has become Florida’s largest annual convention of any kind, bringing in thousands of aircraft and more than 200,000 visitors from 80 countries to Lakeland each year. But it didn’t happen by accident—it came to fruition on purpose, for a purpose, even if most of the original pioneers stand in awe of the breadth of what it has become.
“But pretty soon the vision was there for an event and there were probably 10-15 early founders who were so involved even to the point of signing a note at the Barnett Bank to get our first pump and well in because after working out here you get pretty damn dirty,” he says.
SUN ’n FUN pioneer Bob Highley, who has lived in Lakeland with his wife Susan since 1972, said initially a group of five or six EAA chapters were interested in partnering with the Antique Aircraft Association to create an event that was open to the public where people could check out pre-World War II aircraft. Eventually, the Classic Aircraft Association jumped on board as well, and in 1975 a weekend fly-in with 365 aircraft and 1,980 guests served as the first Sun ‘n Fun as people around the world know it today.
esteemed Florida Air Museum, the creation of the
like the United States Air Force Thunderbirds—who are flying at this year’s event—and U.S. Navy Blue Angels are the norm; it also has paved the way for major spotlights, like one by Good Morning America recently at Lakeland Linder Airport, and for premiere entertainers like country stars Dylan Scott and Sara Evans, who are scheduled to cap off opening night of the 50th fly-in with an electrifying concert.
Highley says partners like the City of Lakeland and Visit Central Florida have been essential to the event’s exponential growth because of the marketing, the funding and the long-term relationships, but he says Sun ’n Fun would be nothing without the volunteers.
Today, more than 3,000 volunteers are needed annually to help Sun ’n Fun fly at its constantly increasing altitude.
a liking to aviation as well because she would “hate to think what would have happened” if her father were asked to give his endorsement for a man who liked staying on the ground.
At the 50th fly-in you’ll find everything from courses on repairing aircraft wings, to flight simulators, to air shows with fireworks and drones, to inside access to new aviation technology and so much more.
“I feel like the grandparent,” Suzy Eickhoff says with a chuckle when asked what it’s like to reflect on what the expo has become. “With SUN ’n FUN, if you’re passionate and have an idea, if it’s a good one, then you do it. Everybody has a part in it.”
If you take a peek at hotel prices in Lakeland for early April, you’ll find that the event is an economical boon for the area, which makes sense when you’re talking about hosting the second largest airshow in the country.
The steady ascent of Lakeland’s power and prowess in the aviation world thanks to SUN ’n FUN means that top performers
One Lakelander who was a catalyst for growing Sun ’n Fun from its humble beginnings to its global fame was Billy Henderson, executive director of the expo from 1975 to 1999.
Most of the pioneers have at least one story about how Henderson listened to a suggestion from them about how to improve the event and then empowered them to go figure out how to implement it.
“First job they had me on here…they had me stringing fence, and they saw that my truck had a two-way aircraft radio in it, and [Henderson] said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a better job for you,” SUN ’n FUN pioneer Calvin Arter recalls. “‘When it starts, how about you sitting out in the middle and talking to the airplanes as they come in and ask for help?’”
The Eickhoffs’ experience is similar, and is a testament to how using people’s talents and passions is a near surefire way to accelerate growth.
The couple has never missed a fly-in, and they have been incredible philanthropists who financially supported the Skylab Innovation Center, The Lakeland Aero Club, the Able Flight project and other initiatives.
Bill served as chairman of the board for 28 years, and the couple is honored to have played a role in a journey that has allowed them to make lifelong friends and memories.
“We are just really proud of how it’s kept its quality and its family atmosphere, and it’s very safe,” Suzy says. “
As Highley says, the one-time small gathering of friends has now garnered a reputation worthy of the sacrifice and selflessness that has been the norm of Lakelanders and Sun ’n Fun regulars for decades.
“With the Air Force I was all over the world, and if you were to say Gainesville to someone in Germany, no one would know where you were talking about,” he says. “But if you said Lakeland, nine out of 10 times if you’re around aviation people, they would say, ‘Oh that’s where SUN ‘n FUN is,’ even if you’re standing on a street in Frankfurt.”
We would bring food and have a cookout, and the guys from Vero Beach would bring their guitars and play music, and it became a family thing on the weekends.
Suzy Eickhoff SUN ‘n FUN Pioneer
The first-ever weekend fly-in is held in January. It is called Mid-Winter SUN ’n FUN, and 1,980 guests and 365 aircraft were present.
It snows! Even with the low temperatures, more than 2,000 aircraft from five countries fly-in and more than 7,000 people enjoy the week-long event.
SUN ’n FUN moves from January to March and the decision pays off. More than 17,000 guest from 11 countries attend the event and the opening of two commercial buildings on site.
People from all 50 states attend SUN ’n FUN for the first time and more than 87,000 people and more than 5,000 planes come in and out of Lakeland Linder.
At this stage Lakeland is actually “The World’s Busiest Airport” based on aircraft operations during the weeklong expo.
The SUN ’n FUN Air Museum held its grand opening.
The Florida Legislature decreed the Florida Air Museum as the “O cial Aviation Museum and Education Center of the State of Florida.”
In partnership with the Polk County School District, the Central Florida Aerospace Academy opens its doors.
SUN ’n FUN celebrates the opening of Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA), a career and technical STEM public high school.
The Skylab Innovation Center opens. This educational extension of the Florida Air Museum offers an interactive laboratory and classroom space for formal and informal Aerospace and STEM learning.
SUN ’n FUN introduces the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), a 14-building aerospace STEM facility on its campus. ACE boasts an impressive array of STEM learning environments and operates year-round, including aerospace summer camps, field trips and outreach programs that reach more than 20,000 students annually.
he future of the next generation is up in the “air”—and the Aerospace Center for Excellence’s (ACE) goal is to keep more young people up in the air and working in elds directly connected with aviation and aeronautics.
rough the Future ‘n Flight Plaza, this year’s event will show o emerging technologies, o er a wide array of simulator experiences, connect people to career opportunities and celebrate and encourage up-and-coming aviation enthusiasts.
Jane Winter, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for ACE, said this plaza showcases the organization’s absolute commitment to educating young people.
“ ere are so many paths to attaining a career in aviation. Pilots, maintenance, air tra c controllers, airport management and so much more. We’ve taken it upon ourselves as an organization to spark the interest of the next generation and show them the pathways.”
Located directly inside the main admission gates of SUN ’n FUN, the Future ’n Flight Plaza has a number of exciting exhibitions and immersive experiences for all ages:
Flight simulators are just one way that people of all ages can get a hands-on feel for what it’s like to fly, and experience for themselves the joy of aviation at SUN ’n FUN.
We’ve taken it upon ourselves as an organization to spark the interest of the next generation and show them the pathways.”
It’s game-on all day long thanks to FlightSimExpo providing hands-on flight simulators that put you in the virtual cockpit and allow you to fly numerous aircraft in a variety of locations and weather conditions. Participating organizations and exhibitors include Dogfight Dynamics, Flight Velocity, FS Academy, Jetline Systems, MSI Computers, Propwash Simulation, SimFab, Thrustmaster, X-Plane, Yaw VR, and many more.
What began years ago as a single day affair at SUN ‘n FUN has become an integral part of every single day of the expo. More than 20 companies and organizations will have representatives on hand to talk about career paths and even schedule meetings and interviews with potential candidates. The employers vary from organizations like Frontier Airlines to Mission Aviation Fellowship to Southwest Airlines.
“Although the aviation industry is thriving, there is a shortage of pilots and mechanics, and everyone from the big companies to the little companies are trying to hire,” Winter said.
Throughout the week there will be activities to especially engage with the 7 to 17 year-old audience. The Junior ACES program will host an array of STEM activities, “build a plane” workshops, air traffic controlling exercises, simulators and more across three buildings: the Junior ACES Tent in Future ‘n Flight Plaza, the Buehler Hangar and in the Skylab Innovation Center.
“There are so many little kids who don’t even know that there’s an avenue for them in aviation….so if we can get them to look into the future and realize, ‘I could actually do this myself,’ that’s success to me,” Winter said.
On Wednesday, April 10 SUN ’n FUN is hosting the Women ACE’s Breakfast to showcase talented women who led the charge in the aviation industry to provide opportunities to current and future generations of girls and women. “We’re so proud to honor the women who have paved the way in commercial and military aviation careers,” Winter said.
Visitors, vendors and volunteers from more than 80 countries can check-in and find someone who speaks their language to share stories with and have their event questions answered.
Sponsored by Carilly and Badcock Furniture, the Family Oasis is designed to give your family a welcoming place to chill while enjoying the grounds of SUN ‘n FUN. Young families will especially enjoy an escape from the sun along with comfort stations, nursing areas, and more.
And don’t miss Kids Club at the Family Oasis at Night, which allows parents to enjoy the SUN ‘n FUN nightlife while their kids are engaged in a fun-filled night of their own! Every night is themed to the activities happening at the show. Each Kids Club ticket includes professional child care, dinner, snacks and activities.
On February 23, the race toward personal air transportation was on display for all the world to see when “Good Morning America” crew filmed live at SUN ’n FUN the historic launch of Lift Aircraft’s HEXA, a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle that resembles a giant drone and is powered by 18 separate electric motors. It classifies as an ultralight aircraft and requires just an hour of training before an adult can go up and pilot the experimental vehicle.
Lift will be on site during SUN ‘n FUN to let people get up close and personal with the technology as one of more than a dozen exhibits in the Innovation Showcase.
Also being featured is a company who does drone deliveries—who Winter said be doing some “pretty interesting deliveries” during the expo—as well as a German company who has built an app that creates personal co-pilots that can assist individuals in flight.
HEXA by Lift Aircraft“It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s superman!”
the case of SUN ’n FUN it’s really a combination of the last two as some of the most talented pilots in the world put on aerial shows that delight the masses with their precision and skill.
Dennis Dunbar, Director of Airshows and Attractions, said every day has airshows that combine history, creativity and high-octane entertainment.
He encourages locals who get amped up to go to Saturday night’s “premiere” show to consider the Wednesday night show, which is the exact same show that mesmerizes the crowd, often leaving them speechless.
Here are some of the highlights of the daily airshows. The schedule for all the airshows can be found by scanning the QR code below.
The elite pilots flying the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds show off the incredible capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, an elite multi-role fighter jet. And this year is the 50th anniversary of this iconic group.
The demonstration is a mix of six aircraft performing formation flying and solo routines. The four-ship Diamond formation showcases the precision and training of Air Force pilots, as well as the gracefulness of the F-16. The two solos display the power and maximum capabilities of the supersonic jet.
Flying a number of iconic warplanes, Tora Tora Tora is a living history lesson that has been taking people back to December 7, 1941 since the group’s inception in 1972.
“You will learn about what happened on December 7th, 1941 in Pearl Harbor…but you’re also going to be entertained by the precision in the flying and the pyrotechnics,” Dunbar says. “You’ll feel like you were there in Pearl Harbor.”
The show features the following aircraft: Mitsubishi A6M, Nakajima B5N, Aichi D3A, Curtiss P-36 and Curtiss P-40.
Did you know you could find astronauts in training at SUN ’n FUN? In a high-G, dynamic and highconsequence environment this group of men and women dreaming of space are able to gain invaluable real-world experience including crew resource management and navigation skills.
This group is part of the Polaris Dawn space mission, which operates out of Kennedy Space Center, and the initiative is also raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Sun n Fun marks Ghost Squadron’s global debut.
“They’ve been practicing in Montana and some other places already…but their public debut is gonna be on Tuesday,” Dunbar says. “They have really cool airplanes and are wonderful people.”
Each performer is going to bring their airplanes and crew chiefs out, and they’re just going to interact with the public...”
For the first time in its history SUN ’n FUN is hosting a “performer experience” where fans can meet the men and women piloting their favorite aircraft.
“Each performer is going to bring their airplanes and crew chiefs out, and they’re just going to interact with the public, kind of like a Gasoline Alley experience at the Indy 500. You know, get your selfies and actually have one-on-one conversations with these folks.”
Military tactical demonstrations
One-of-a-kind warbirds
World class civilian performers
Daily airshows 1 to 5 p.m.
Check out a full schedule of the daily airshows at Sun ’n Fun.
sUN ’n FUN was built by aviation enthusiasts for aviation enthusiasts, but also with the intent to strike a chord with the general public in such a way that just maybe others would become captivated by aeronautics.
One way to draw people in is through entertainment by air and land, and never has the lineup of fun been stronger.
APRIL 9, 6 P.M.
APRIL 9, 11, & 12 7 TO
Prepare to be wowed by a host of innovative and concept aviation performers that light up the night sky. This includes colorful flyovers, the Airythmia Paramotor Team, the Patriot Parachute Team, RC trick planes, short take off and landing aircraft and more.
Once the high-pitched whistling and steady hum of jet and plane engines has kicked off the expo, a couple of country music stars Dylan Scott and Sara Evans will put an exclamation point on the opening day.
Scott has notched four No. 1 radio singles: “My Girl,” “Nobody,” “New Truck,” and “Can’t Have Mine (Find You a Girl.) The latter became a viral hit on TikTok, and his star has continued to rise as he has toured with the likes of Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Chris Young and others.
Evans is a country music veteran who has five No.1 singles to her credit including “Suds in the Bucket.” “A Real Fine Place to Start” and “A Little Bit Stronger.”
Evans and Scott will be performing from sunset into the night at the warbird ramp.
All general admission pass holders for the opening day of SUN ’n FUN will be able to enjoy the concert.
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Amazing sights in the sky are the norm at SUN ’n FUN, and this year the fi reworks display is leveling up to be more spectacular than ever before. On Wednesday and Saturday the fi reworks will serve as the night cap to the incredible evening airshows.
There’s no better way to support the next generation of aviation professionals at the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) than by throwing a massive party. Attendees of the BASH at the Florida Air Museum enjoy a cocktail reception and delectable food offerings, and silent and live auctions raise funds for ACE and the Florida Air Museum.
Tickets are $150, or tables for eight can be reserved for $1,500. Find out more or purchase tickets at flysnf.org/activities/the-bash
GET READY FOR THE
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SUN ’N FUN
DESIGNED BY JON SIERRA
The collection of aircraft you can experience at Sun ’n FUn Is unlike any other in the world. Whether you’re into history, do-it-yourself One-of-a-kind projects, military power OR SOMETHING ELSE—there are planes to explore and memories to make.
Large or small, single or multi-engine, check out the gaggle of what we call “seabirds” on display in this special section of floatable SUN ‘n FUN participants.
These aircraft are constructed with the intent of pushing the limits of the structural integrity of the airframe while flying maneuvers that are not for the
faint of heart. AEROBATIC
STOL
Short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft are conventional aircraft with modified designs to allow for takeoffs and landings from short airfields and airstrips with harsh conditions.
Walk through, touch, and ask questions as military personnel and aircraft from every branch of the U.S. Military are represented with static displays of our modern-day military.
displays of our modern-day military.
Along with Ultralights, light sport aircraft offer an affordable way for many to begin their piloting journey with a Sport Pilot License. At the Expo, you can see up-close the broad and colorful variety of Ultralights and LSA’s, from gliders to powered parachutes to rotorcraft like gyrocopters, and more.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, a corporate event, a birthday party, or a special occasion, the Boat House at Lake Crago offers a unique and elegant backdrop for your unforgettable day.
Visit us online at LakelandGov.net/Rentals for more information.
the boathouse at lake crago
WRITTEN BY ADAM SPAFFORD
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SUN ’N FUN
DESIGNED BY JON SIERRA
hat could be more fun than cheating gravity?” asks Eric Crump, revealing an inexhaustible enthusiasm for aviation. Crump is VP/COO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE)–located at the Lakeland Linder International Airport–whose campus boasts an amalgam of all things aerospace: the Central Florida Aerospace Academy, flight simulators, aircraft restoration, and maintenance training facilities, as well as a museum, a hangar, a fully functional 727, and more. It all exists to spark that same enthusiasm in young people and provide the instruction and opportunities needed to bring about a lifetime of flying, whether personal or professional.
“A lot of people think we are SUN ‘n FUN–,” says Crump, “that once a year for a week we get really loud when lots of planes arrive.” Even Lakelanders who don’t attend the annual Aerospace Expo each spring know what’s happening when a monstrous aircraft briefly casts a shadow over their homes or a jet creates something of a thunderclap–but that’s often as far as it goes. “But,” Crump continues, “what many people don’t know is that it’s one giant fundraiser which empowers everything ACE does the other 51 weeks a year, making the door to aviation as wide and as welcoming as possible through mentorship, education, and scholarships.”
Those things, particularly the scholarships–open to anyone who lives or goes to school in Polk County, be it public or home school–are critical for aspiring pilots because the costs of training are sky-high. As alumnus Layton Bracey explains, “Becoming a pilot can cost upward of $100,000 so it scares a lot of people away.”
Without ACE’s flagship James C. Ray scholarship, he likely would not have been able to have what is already a remarkable career at just age 24.
“I got the bug for flying at age 11 when my uncle, a private pilot, took me to SUN ’n FUN,” says Bracey. “At 14, I received the James C. Ray scholarship. I joined the
Layton Bracey , an alum of ACE, continues to live out his dream of being a pilot. He has done everything from pilot a seaplane to being a commercial pilot for Frontier Airlines.
Lakeland Aero Club at ACE and gained a lot of experience building, restoring, and flying aircraft. I’d show up after school and help rebuild an engine or change a plane’s tire. I also attended ACE’s summer camps...until I was old enough to get my private pilot’s license just after my 17th birthday.”
Since then, Layton has been an instructor, a seaplane pilot, and is currently a first officer for Frontier Airlines. Along the way he even had a stint flying a Cessna 207 in Alaska, bringing groceries, birthday cakes, and pizza to remote villages. He jokes that there’s no such thing as “30 minutes or it’s free” guarantees there.
“We really believe aviation is for everyone,” Crump says, “and ACE exists because a lot of people think they can’t do it.”
Indeed, there’s a shortage of professionals throughout the industry, whether it be for financial or temporal reasons.
“I mowed a lot of grass and washed a lot of cars to log 100 hours of flying time,” recalls Crump of his teenage pursuit of higher altitudes.
Bracey, for his part, laughs as he recalls he was known as the lame friend throughout middle and high school because he spent so much time studying. But for those who get the bug, the effort to become part of the tight-knit enthusiasts is well worth it.
“I love the aviation community,” says Cathy Dal Colletto, Digital Marketing Coordinator for ACE and SUN ‘n FUN, who was also a James C. Ray scholarship recipient and ACE alumna. Dal Colletto, whose training through ACE has afforded her opportunities in several aviation roles, returned to the organization in a most interesting way. “I started the @classcairspace TikTok during the COVID shutdown at Winter Haven airport to talk about my Airport Operations job. Eventually, ACE thought it would be cool to bring me on since I could now combine social media experience with my aviation training.”
Dal Colletto, who also serves as President of the local Women in Aviation chapter (www. lakelandwai.com), now uses social media to showcase all the inspirational and educational opportunities ACE has available for all ages. “I want people to see everything ACE has to offer: the Redbird Flight Simulation Laboratory, the annual Wings ‘n Things event, STEM programs, summer camps, the museum, a free story time for children, Classroom to the Sky event for teachers, after school enrichment programs, and even camping. No matter your age, ACE has an aerospace program for you. We often use the phrase ‘from carseat to cockpit’ because aviation is for everyone.”
Crump, who spent a decade building Polk State College’s aerospace program, explains it is ACE’s industry partnerships which keep the organization on the leading edge of the skills young people need to excel in aviation.
“We are fortunate to have several partners who believe in what we do and offer assistance.
Polk State College, the two Central Florida aerospace programs, and Traviss Technical College all share a common advisory board on which ACE is an executive committee member. This results in excellent connections all over the industry, people who can tell us what they are seeing, what they’ve identified as skills employees need when they begin in aviation–then we can focus on the things the industry tells us are critical. For instance, to have the chief standards pilot of a major airline guide us to teach the most needed skills is invaluable.”
“Most of the time, kids just need someone to tell them they can,” says Crump, who describes his own preadolescence as wayward with a deep aversion to school–a vector that was drastically changed by aviation. “I was very fortunate to find people who wanted to mentor a kid who loved airplanes. Now, I love seeing kids’ eyes light up when they see how cool airplanes are, too.”
And ACE alums often give back hundreds of volunteer hours to the organization that made their aviation dreams possible. “We’re not just adding great pilots to aviation,” Crump says, “but we’re adding good people to the workforce.”
After all, aviation is for everyone.
No matter your age, ACE has an aerospace program for you.”
Who would have thought that back in January of 1975 at our rst y-in here in Lakeland, FL that 50 years later we would be days out from our 50th SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo to be held on April 9-14, 2024? As an organization, we are forever grateful to the believers: the pioneers, our past board members, the City of Lakeland, the Lakeland Linder International Airport, Polk County, Visit Central Florida, Polk County Public Schools, our rst responders, and all of the companies and organizations in this community that have contributed to our success. We are especially grateful to the more than 20,000 volunteers that we have on record, who have dedicated their time and talents to make us what we are today!
is year, as we celebrate our 50th SUN ‘n FUN, we also celebrate the tremendous impact of the Aerospace Center for Excellence, the parent company of the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. We reach more than 20,000 students and teachers annually via our world-class campus, which is home to the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA), Lakeland Aero Club, the Skylab Innovation Center, ELEVATE, and Traviss Technical College’s Airframe and Powerplant program. We also impact thousands more through our outreach programming. None of this would be possible without your signi cant contribution each year at the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo.
So, when the celebration ends on April 14th, 2024, what does our next 50 years look like here in Lakeland, FL?
As the Lakeland Linder International Airport continues to grow and develop, it is time for us to craft our own long-range master site plan for SUN ’n FUN and the Aerospace Center for Excellence, our year-round events, and educational programming. In partnership with the Lakeland Linder International Airport, Visit Central Florida, and our Engineering rm, CMT, we have begun the e ort to reimagine our footprint on the airport.
With the development of the airport’s much-needed new runway, we are preparing for the anticipated impacts on our campus. I appreciate the concerns that community members have shared with me regarding the new runway.
To these concerns, I emphasize the positives and the tremendous opportunity we have at hand to reimagine our footprint for the next 50 years. I can already see two new 40,000 square foot exhibit buildings that will house our exhibitors during SUN ‘n FUN, as well as welcome large year-round events to Polk County; I can see new campgrounds for our visitors, a new, expanded Florida Air Museum facility that will be able to house much larger aircraft, Central Florida Aerospace Academy with increased capacity, a K-8 Aerospace Academy on campus to feed into CFAA, a purposefully-built facility to house Traviss’ A&P program, and who knows what else we can come up with, but I will say…the next 50 years are shaping up to be just as exciting as the rst 50 and I look forward to unveiling our plans at our 51st SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo on April 1-6, 2025.
e Aerospace Center for Excellence and the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo are grateful for your signi cant contributions to our event each year and so are the kids and families that we serve… ank you!
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An airplane flies over Lake Parker, during Sun ‘n Fun’s Splash-In event for amphibious airplanes and seaplanes. Seaplanes rest on the shore, while other float in the waters of the lake.
Courtesy of the Lakeland Public Library
