Just got back from a quick 2 days. Wx on Tue was marginal, very light traffic. Wed really picked up, perfect day!
Primary mission was to approve G3X for one of our club planes. Mission accomplished, looks like about $55k all in for a dual screen flight deck with a 650 and other odds and ends. On to shop selection and scheduling.
Piper had their new Pilot 100 out. Lots of energy in that tent. Think 3-seat PA28, with all non-essentials removed (baggage door, wheel pants, etc.). Sub $300k for an IFR G3x platform. Can go as low as $260k for a 2 seat VFR. Fleet trainer market.
RV-related stuff:
Good showing % wise of RV's in HBC and HBP (30-40% ish). Great conversations with many of them as always. It's always fun studying builds and each year I find that I'm looking at whatever I'm working on or about to start.
The -12is One Week Wonder was at the EAA tent. Paint came out beautiful.
Mr Barrett was showcasing an IO-3xx for a -7 builder who was coming to the show later in the week. Pure mechanical art.
Vans has their usual show special engine / prop combo. Looked for some logo attire, none around, check back at Osh. They had the -12is and the -14a demonstrator out. The -14 has some paint bubbles on the fuel tank rivets now. :-( Lot of buzz at the tent. Synergy was down the aisle with a customer -7a that was a fantastic build.
Garmin is running their seminar rebates for $1-200 off various bits and pieces of radios, screens etc. if you sit a session (or ask nicely). They had the g3x Tiger out too. Nice setup.
Aeroshell had the usual show specials, $75 for a case of 15w50. The twist this year is that Spruce is the merchant, and they will ship at $10/case instead of carry out only. I bought 20 cases and got an even better deal to ship .
All in a good show. HBC was a serious hike though!
Broke down and decided to go even with the new parking arrangement. I will not be back. The new hb parking is awful, the taxi in and out is awful, and the tram service is awful. Very Few people looking at the homebuilts because of the distance and I was told that next year it will be even worse. Talking to a couple of volunteers that were in the meetings confirmed that certain people really don't want homebuilts there. RIP sun n fun it's on the downhill greed slide.
Bob burns
Rv-4 n82rb
The compliments are much appreciated. The build process was an incredible experience for this first time builder. We are working hard on the RV-10 to do even better.
I spent maybe an hour talking with Krea about his plane. I was grateful he was there with the cowl off so I could see his firewall forward with the bill lane plenum. Seems like a great guy. Our 2 wives talked while he and I were talking. These 2 are great RV ambassadors! His is definitely a beautiful aircraft and gives me a goal for what mine will look like when done.
I hope you had a chance to use our trams--they were running regularly up and down the taxiway directly to HB parking.
I personally disagree with some of your conclusions, Bob, but I appreciate the fact that you gave SnF a shot this year.
SnF moved the Homebuilt parking area because of chronic complaints about the access to the old area, so now we...we (I'm an RV owner as well)...have a place to sit and compare builds. Yes, it is further from the core than the old parking area. And yes, it's still closer than what you'll find at Airventure.
I hope you had a chance to use our trams--they were running regularly up and down the taxiway directly to HB parking.
I'll let SnF address the rebranding, but bear in mind that the new parking areas are a work in progress. Next year's HB parking lot will be substantially increased in the same vicinity, with the ability to park all HB's in the same geographic area.
SnF needs everybody's participation, and there is nothing I like more than seeing an airport filled with visitors, especially fellow homebuilts. Give us a chance to further improve our facilities, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Thanks for the good report - renewed my interest for next year!I have been to Sun 'N Fun about 15 times. Usually 1 or 2 days and I always stayed in motels.
This year I flew in on Tuesday, and yes I did get to enjoy Lake Parker because of a Bonanza with gear problems, and parked my RV-12 in the Homebuilt Camping. I tied down the aircraft, pitched my tent, put my stuff in the tent, and then went off to buy my wristband, etc. and headed to the main part of the show. It was about 5:30 p.m. so I decided to have dinner and a beer and the went back to the Homebuilt Camping area. I was in for a surprise. Since I had never camped, I thought you parked your airplane, pitched your tent, and you were on your own.
When I arrived back at Homebuilt Camping, I saw the big tent and all the people in it. I went over and went in and learned that they have food. I had already eaten but I sat down, introduced myself to some people, and began a wonderful evening of talking about airplanes, etc. About 11:00 p.m. I finally went to my tent and to sleep.
The rest of the week I had breakfast and dinner at the Homebuilt Camping. Almost every night I stayed up until 11:00 p.m. visiting, etc.
On Sunday morning I took my tent down, got the airplane ready, and flew home.
This year was my best experience at Sun 'N Fun. The main reason was because of the great experience at Homebuilt Camping. Heidi, the chairman, and all of her volunteers did a wonderful job. Everyone who was there owes them a huge thank you. The other people who were camping there were great, fun to talk to, and I learned many things.
The other reason it was the best experience is because I had 4 full days at the show. I have always been rushed before but this time I took 1 day just for forums. I did and saw everything I wanted to this year which is also a first for me. Always before I left saying I wish I would have had time to do ??????.
Homebuilt Camping was a good distance from the main show area. Most of the time I rode a tram in the morning, and stayed until dinner time, and then rode a tram back. I was fortunate I didn't have to wait long.
But this was my best Sun 'N Fun and I will definitely be back next year and will be camping again.
Make excuses for them all you want, but people that have volunteered in hb for years told me the same thing, they really don't want us anymore.
I have been to Sun 'N Fun about 15 times. Usually 1 or 2 days and I always stayed in motels.
This year I flew in on Tuesday, and yes I did get to enjoy Lake Parker because of a Bonanza with gear problems, and parked my RV-12 in the Homebuilt Camping. I tied down the aircraft, pitched my tent, put my stuff in the tent, and then went off to buy my wristband, etc. and headed to the main part of the show. It was about 5:30 p.m. so I decided to have dinner and a beer and the went back to the Homebuilt Camping area. I was in for a surprise. Since I had never camped, I thought you parked your airplane, pitched your tent, and you were on your own.
When I arrived back at Homebuilt Camping, I saw the big tent and all the people in it. I went over and went in and learned that they have food. I had already eaten but I sat down, introduced myself to some people, and began a wonderful evening of talking about airplanes, etc. About 11:00 p.m. I finally went to my tent and to sleep.
The rest of the week I had breakfast and dinner at the Homebuilt Camping. Almost every night I stayed up until 11:00 p.m. visiting, etc.
On Sunday morning I took my tent down, got the airplane ready, and flew home.
This year was my best experience at Sun 'N Fun. The main reason was because of the great experience at Homebuilt Camping. Heidi, the chairman, and all of her volunteers did a wonderful job. Everyone who was there owes them a huge thank you. The other people who were camping there were great, fun to talk to, and I learned many things.
The other reason it was the best experience is because I had 4 full days at the show. I have always been rushed before but this time I took 1 day just for forums. I did and saw everything I wanted to this year which is also a first for me. Always before I left saying I wish I would have had time to do ??????.
Homebuilt Camping was a good distance from the main show area. Most of the time I rode a tram in the morning, and stayed until dinner time, and then rode a tram back. I was fortunate I didn't have to wait long.
But this was my best Sun 'N Fun and I will definitely be back next year and will be camping again.
This year was my best experience at Sun 'N Fun. The main reason was because of the great experience at Homebuilt Camping. ?.
But this was my best Sun 'N Fun and I will definitely be back next year and will be camping again.
I understand the concept behind moving HB parking for access during the fly-overs and air shows but it was so far removed from show center that there was far fewer planes and even fewer people that came down to see them. SNF must find a better location if they want to support homebuilders.
I understand the concept behind moving HB parking for access during the fly-overs and air shows but it was so far removed from show center that there was far fewer planes and even fewer people that came down to see them. SNF must find a better location if they want to support homebuilders.
I wonder if they would consider using the taxiway as the centerline for flyovers and the air show?
That way, they could allow access the the old HB area during the show.