LAKELAND, Fla. — The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and top aerobatic aircraft will kick-off the 2021 air show season next week during the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo.
The popular air show and pilot fly-in returns on April 13 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Aerospace workshops and static aircraft will also highlight the largest air show in the south.
Tickets to the family friendly events are available online. Gates will open each day at 8:00 a.m. EDT, Tuesday through Sunday.
Blue Angels Super Hornets Airshow Debut
Sun ‘n Fun will mark the Blue Angels first public demonstration flying the F/A-18E Super Hornets. The Navy’s elite flight squadron also launches into their 75th anniversary season at Sun-N-Fun.
The Blue Angels new C-130J Super Hercules is also poised to fly during the air show weekend. Known as Fat Albert, the squadron’s cargo transport is a crowd favorite not flown at air shows since 2018.
“We are honored to be the first airshow performance site for the Blue Angels to help launch this exciting new era of their 75-year history,” SUN ‘n FUN airshow director Greg Gibson said on Sunday. “The Blues’ display of precision, excellence in flight, and character on the ground is exactly the inspiration we want to bring to our fans.”
The Blue Angels one hour of flying will be divided into Fat Albert’s 12 minute demonstration followed by the Super Hornets display.
“We are thrilled to return to the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, where we will have the opportunity to debut our new jet platform, the F/A-18 Super Hornet and logistics support aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules”, Blue Angels Boss Cmdr. Brian Kesselring said.
“We are humbled by the support and hospitality the Lakeland community provides us,” Kesselring added. “We are excited to showcase the capabilities of Naval Aviation.”
Lakeland to Rumble Under the F-22s Thunder
The Air Force F-22A Raptor Demonstration Team is scheduled to perform April 16 thru 18. For the team’s commander and pilot, Sun ‘n Fun will be a homecoming as he returns to his aviation roots.
Maj. Josh “Cabo” Gunderson grew up in nearby Valrico, and attended air shows as a teenager. Upon high school graduation, Cabo headed to Colorado to attend the Air Force Academy.
“I am extremely excited about returning to my home state of Florida and flying at Sun ‘n Fun,” Maj. Gunderson said. “I attended many Sun ‘n Fun events as a kid and loved seeing the military jets, so it’s an honor to pay that forward to future aviators.”
Cabo will pilot the F-22A through a demonstration filled with high speed climbs, precision turns, and low flat passes. Near the conclusion, the Raptor will join a P-51D Mustang to perform the Air Force Heritage Flight.
“We are very pleased to welcome Cabo and his team to Lakeland,” Gibson said. “The Raptor is one of my personal favorites. The incredible maneuverability and its ability to demonstrate such agility and power while literally disappearing from the enemy in combat is truly amazing.”
Civilian aerobatic aircraft will also take to the skies each day beginning April 13. Michael Goulian, Patty Wagstaff, Rob Holland, Thom Richard, and Jerry Kirby are only a few of top aerobatic performs on the schedule.
The pilots of AeroShell Aerobatic Team — Mark Henley, Steve Gustafson, Jimmy Fordham, and Bryan Regan — will perform over the airport aboard the Army’s AT-6 Texan. AeroShell’s four aircraft will perform aerobatic maneuvers flown by the Army Air Corps. 80 years ago.
An exciting addition to this year’s show is the first drone light show public performance. Sixty aerial robots will take to the night sky, launching in unison, twice during the week.
Classroom sessions and events for pilots, aircraft owners, and companies are available. There are in depth forums, areas to network with fellow pilots and buy or sell their aircraft. Workshops educating the latest in aircraft mechanics will highlight the expo side.
Daily admission tickets for the 47th annual Sun ‘N Fun remain available. All tickets are available online and include most of the classroom sessions, air show, the Florida Air Museum, and much more.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
