Sun & fun ???

[gyroplanes]

I have not heard a peep anywhere, about SNF this year. I didn't see anything on ANN or on here either. Not even the usual accident barrage (except for a PPC fatal)

[Gyro_Kai]

ANN was informed that they were not welcomed as journalists, as they only came "to make money off of them". If that is how they generally treat the press, it will become a covert operation.

Kai.

[jcarleto]

I wonder how they (the Sun 'n Fun management) imagine journalists are paid for their efforts if it isn't by creating a marketable product from their writing. Especially in this economy, I'd be very pleased for any publicity that I didn't have to buy.

[WHY]

Maybe ANN will find other aviation events more interesting, would always be glad to see them at Bensen Days and Mentone .

Tony

[Alan Uhr]

Lots of sun, not much Fun. The rotorcraft had only 2 vendors that I saw. Safari Helicopters and Mosquito Helicopters. There were only 3 Gyros there early in the week. Tim Veroy, Roy ??? and the Red MTO. The MTO left after a day or 2. The rest of the aera was DEAD. Tim flew quite a lot but that was it. Very disappointing this year. There were only a few people camped out there this year. Maybe 4 campers. Traffic in the Ultralight area was also very light with vendors. By the end of the week there were a few more private people show up to camp out and fly. I heard that next year they may bring the LSA Mall to the Ultralight area so the place doesn't look empty. The crowds were down on Tue,Wed,Thur. Better on Friday and Saturday. Best part of the airshow, to me, was the "Team RV" group. They put on a very entertaining show. Alan

[Vance]

I felt Sun N Fun was great.

I bought some books from the library, spent lots of time with various venders and enjoyed the air show.

I visited with Carl and a fellow who flies a very pretty mosquito.

I spent a lot of time wandering around the classic airplanes and talking to the owners.

The approach to the ultralight runway went right over the parking lot and I spent some time watching landings.

The Florida air museum was lots of fun.

I had some very nice hangar flying sessions with several different pilots.

I feel Sun N Fun is a very nice gathering of remarkable people in celebration of aviation passion.

I have been at least ten times and my enjoyment has grown with each visit to Sun N Fun.

I even found a nicer cheap motel to stay at in Bartow.

I ran out of time well before I ran out of interesting things to do.

I found Sun N Fun a nice way to unwind from the excitement of Bensen Days.

I filled in the time between with Fantasy of Flight and a great used book store.

Thank you, Vance

[animal]

Commuter H-1B flys! at Sun -n-Fun.MOV - YouTube

commuter second flight..MOV - YouTube

to much sun, not alot of fun, storms closed the airshow saturday early and we left.

[BigBen]

Vance,
I can always use good aviation books. Where did you find the used book store?

[Vance]

Hello Ben,

I became lost on the way from Bartow to Fantasy of Flight trying to avoid the toll roads and stumbled across the book store.

I didn’t buy anything there so I don’t even remember the name of it.

They did not have a lot of aviation books but I love all used book stores and it is a big one.

The aviation books I purchased were from the Florida Air Museum.

Each year they sell off their duplicates.

They have a lot of good magazines too.

In my travels I have found that many museums do this.

I purchased a picture book about the Golden Age of Private Aircraft called Wings of Yesteryear and one about the beginning of the EAA.

I also purchased the book to go with my ASA computer program for Commercial Pilot test prep and one about flight reviews from the PilotMall.

I also picked up all the latest catalogs for aviation accessories at Sun N Fun.

I may be a little obsessed with aviation; it seems there is always more for me to learn.

Thank you, Vance

[Vance]

Originally Posted by CLS447

Vance, who gave you the flight review at BD's ?

Hello Chris,

This is a thread about Sun N Fun.

Thank you, Vance

[Vance]

Originally Posted by CLS447

WTF ????? Where would be a good place to ask this question ?

Hello Chris,

I find it confusing when I go to a thread that is about one thing and it diverges into unrelated topics.

It seems to me that what went on at Bensen Days is unrelated to a thread titled “Sun & Fun???”

I will be happy to answer your question in any of the threads related to what went on at Bensen Days asuming I see it there.

It may be that this doesn’t confuse anyone else but because it confuses me I don’t want to add my divergence to the thread.

I felt addressing your question was more polite than simply ignoring your question in spite of the thread divergence this response has caused.

Thank you, Vance

[Resasi]

You are a gentleman Vance.

[Scary Gary]

Originally Posted by CLS447

On the SnF topic....was Safari giving rides ?

Did they make it to BDs ?

There you go with the BD's again !!!!!!

[PW_Plack]

Originally Posted by gyroplanes

I have not heard a peep anywhere, about SNF this year. I didn't see anything on ANN or on here either. Not even the usual accident barrage (except for a PPC fatal)

A particular online media outlet's colorful history with and/or claims about SnF may not be representative of a general policy, but I do believe the event has grown to the point at which making money may have become a higher priority than serving either attendess or exhibitors. If I pay the high price to be an exhibitor, schedule a press conference, and some legitimate media outlets can't be admitted just because they publish digitally rather than on paper, I'm going to reevaluate the value in paying the ever-rising rates to be there.

The last time I covered SnF as a media rep, I overheard a decision being made not to issue credentials to another media outlet because it had been critical of the event in the past. That was a sign to me that controlling public opinion about the event itself has become more important than maximizing the exposure exhibitors are paying for. All the major aviation events are coming to view independent media supported by advertising as poachers, taking a portion of ad budgets the events feel should have been theirs.

Here is SnF's official policy:

Given the proliferation of websites and digital newsletters SUN ʼn FUN does not automatically recognize websites and newsletters as working media outlets for purposes of qualifying for media credentials. We understand that many newsletters, websites and bloggers are distributing information to members and/or the general public, but we are unable to issue media credentials to every digital site or publication. A representative of these organizations may request credentials via the online application and SUN ʼn FUN will authorize a request on a case-by-case basis.

To be fair, SnF can't give every amateur blogger a free admission pass. The folks evaluating incoming requests for credentials may lack the expertise to tell the hobbyist from the truly influential outlets. Even if you buy an admission ticket to cover the event, you need media credentials to be admitted to press conferences and to use the media center and wifi.

Exhibitors who have announcements they consider really important are already arranging to distribute press releases to media who can't get in or have decided attendance costs too much. There's no real advantage in being there unless you need to interview the company officials or get photos (which are then covered by a highly restrictive licensing policy). Both those things can sometimes be arranged in advance by reporters in exchange for agreeing to an "embargo," basically a promise to hold the story till the date and time of the official announcement at the event.

These events could quickly find themselves obsolete from a media coverage standpoint if they don't wake up and see where the world's going.

[BigBen]

Vance,
Thanks for the bookstore info. I was at the S&F Museum for a forum and didn't realize they were selling duplicate books. If I had known that I would have probably spent way too much time in there.