Sun ‘n Fun 2025 A ‘Spring Break For Pilots’

Molly McMillin April 01, 2025
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The history of Sun ‘n Fun is featured in front of the entrance to the Florida Air Museum.

Credit: Molly McMillin / BCA

The 51st Sun 'n Fun is shaping up to be a record year with 557 exhibitors, 3,000 to 3,500 aircraft and an expectation crowd of more than 200,000 attendees, "up 20% across the board," says Gene Conrad, president and CEO of Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo. The show is outpacing that of 2024, which marked Sun 'n Fun's 50th anniversary, as another record year, Conrad says. 

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A pilot guiding an aircraft into place after flying into Lakeland Linder International Airport.

Credit: Molly McMillin / BCA
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Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft Denali turboprop aircraft is making its show debut at Sun ‘n Fun 2025.

Credit: Molly McMillin / BCA

The program celebrated the FAA’s certification of the GE Aerospace Catalyst turboprop engine in February, an important milestone. To date, the program has made more than 1,000 flights across three test aircraft amassing more than 2,700 flight hrs.

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Textron Aviation is featuring its Gen3 generation of Citations, including the CJ4 Gen3, CJ3 Gen3 and M2 Gen 3.

Credit: Molly McMillin / BCA
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Tecnam Aircraft, an Italian aircraft manufacturer with a U.S. site in Sebring, Florida, features its lineup of aircraft at Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo.

Credit: Molly McMillin / BCA
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Piper Aircraft’s M350 on static display at Sun ‘n Fun 2025.

Credit: Molly McMillin / BCA

The 51st annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, which runs April 1-6 at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, has become known as “Spring Break for Pilots.” The show began as a fly-in event for sport aviation enthusiasts in 1974 and now attracts more than 200,000 visitors over the six-day period. Sun ‘n Fun features hands-on workshops, exhibitors, static displays of aircraft, forums and afternoon airshow performances.

Molly McMillin

Molly McMillin, a 30-year aviation journalist, is managing editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network and editor-in-chief of The Weekly of Business Aviation, an Aviation Week market intelligence report.

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