I had a friend over one day who has an intense fear of flying, but a keen interest in technology. He looked at me square in the eye and asked me “Why do planes have headlights? What do they need to see, the sky better at night?”
The short answer is simple: Planes don’t have headlights.
Among the wreckage caused by the tornado at Sun n’ Fun was a Light Sport Airplane that was built by the Aviation Exploring Post 491 of Birmingham, Alabama. Aviation Exploring is a branch of the Boy Scouts of America that exposes teens and children to the world of aviation in different ways. Many of the AE posts build planes and raffle them as fundraisers. The AE Post 491 was doing just that, they built a Kitfox and were selling raffle tickets to raise funds to buy their next project plane.
But on March 31, 2011 in Lakeland Florida, all of those plans changed for those young adults who spent countless hours pouring their hearts into that plane.
They are excepting donations on their website AE491.org.
The photos were taken and can be purchased by Barb Cochran Photography at barbcochranphotography.com/.
Every year there is an aviation expo that takes place in March or April at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. This event is SUN ‘N FUN, Spring Break for Pilots. Thousands of aviation enthusiasts, vendors, acrobatic performers, and of course pilots, flocked to LAL this year to enjoy the show.
But this year will be remembered as “The year with the storm”.
On Thursday, March 31st 2011 at around 2011 an EF-1 Tornado ripped through the airport and flipped, destroyed, damaged and mangled vehicles, structures, and airplanes. Luckily, no deaths were reported and the few injuries that were sustained were not serious.
Below are a few websites that only begin to show the extent of the damage received by these flying machines.
http://www.m0a.com/sun-n-fun-tornado/
http://www.barnstormers.com/eFLYER/2011/165-eFLYER-FA01-tornado.html
Video:
Type in “Sun n Fun 2011 Storm tornado” or any combination into your favorite search engine, and you’ll find plenty more pictures, and videos.
WHAT: 2011 Florida International Air Show
WHERE: Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda
WHEN: March 26-27, 2011 10am-3pm
PRICE: Adults:$18(online) $20(At the gate) Kids ages 2-12: $5
For more information visit: Floridaairshow.com
What are you doing this weekend? How about seeing some of man’s greatest flying machines flying over you performing feats you thought were only possible in the movies.
The Florida international Air show is happening this weekend. Here you will be able to see the finest military aircraft including the F-22 Raptor and the F-16. Acrobatic stunts where pilots can demonstrate the precise control that they have over machine.
This weekend should provide fun for the whole family.
Make sure to bring ear plugs.
If you need a place to stay, check out the Microtel Inn just over the river. Tell them Waner sent you.
Are you heading to the Florida International Air Show? Let me know in the comments.
Hope to see you there!
Here for your viewing pleasures are the pictures I took on November 13, 2010 for the Lee County Port of Authority “Aviation Day 2010″
I’m still getting the hang of exposures, and it was a very bright day in Fort Myers.
To view all the pictures I took that day Continue reading
What: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2010
Where: Whittman Regional Airport in Wisconsin (OSH)
When: July 26 -Aug 1
OSHKOSH 2010,
America’s biggest aviation event and fly-in, “AirVenture OSHKOSH 2010” starts today at Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) in Oshkosh Wisconsin. Continue reading
Today is Tuesday, and every second day of the business week I get my dose of human-required humor from an online comic directed towards general aviation: Chicken Wings.
As of publishing time, the comic authors, Continue reading
The airplane raffle ends today at 1pm EDT.
This article was posted around 12pm EDT.
You have less than one hour to win yourself a plane.
