Airshow heritage flight

Sun ‘n Fun 51 Airshow Hotter than Ever

April 2, 2025Posted inAviation, Entertainment
F-35 roars past the crown during this high-speed past. Image by Richard P Gallagher | FMN

Lakeland, FL – April 1, 2025 – The skies above Lakeland Linder International Airport roared to life today as the 51st Annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo kicked off, marking the start of “Aviation’s Season Opener.” Running from April 1 to April 6, this week-long celebration of flight promises a thrilling lineup of airshow performers, a bustling vendor scene, and a host of family-friendly activities—all under the blazing Florida sun. With temperatures expected to climb into the high 80s and low 90s, attendees are gearing up for both high-flying action and the challenge of staying cool and safe.

Drones often carry cameras, raising privacy concerns.

Privacy or Public Interest? Drone Dispute In The Villages May Shape Florida Law

March 30, 2025Posted inAviation, Florida News
Generic Drone Photo / File

In The Villages, Florida, a legal dispute has emerged between local drone operators and the community’s developer over the use of drones to document construction projects. Don Wiley, a Sumter County Commissioner and licensed commercial drone pilot, has been at the center of this controversy. A law firm says Wiley’s use of his drone runs afoul of Florida’s drone law. Wiley vehemently disagrees, citing both legal precedent and his First Amendment rights.

Welcome to Sun N' Fun T-33 on pole

Florida’s Biggest Airshow Kicks Off Next Week

March 27, 2025Posted inAviation, Entertainment, Florida Wildlife, Things to Do and See in Florida, Vacation In Florida

As the calendar flips to April, aviation enthusiasts of all ages are gearing up for a week at the second largest airshow in the United States. The SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo 2025 is set to kick off on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida.

An F-35 Lightning II makes a high-speed pass, appearing to take the control tower with it. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
An F-35 Lightning II makes a high-speed pass, appearing to take the control tower with it. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
Canadian Man Charged For Photographing Sensitive Cape Canaveral Installations With His Drone

Canadian Man Charged For Photographing Sensitive Cape Canaveral Installations With His Drone

February 14, 2025Posted inAviation, Florida News
A typical user grade drone is capable of high resolution video and photography. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
A typical user grade drone is capable of high resolution video and photography. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced yesterday the filing of a criminal information (indictment) charging 71-year-old Canadian citizen Xiao Guang Pan with three counts of using an unmanned aircraft to photograph vital defense installations and equipment without authorization.

Holiday Drone Show Accident Injures Child

Holiday Drone Show Accident Injures Child

December 22, 2024Posted inAviation, Florida News
Drones began falling from the sky after attempting to form a Christmas Tree over Orlando's Lake Eola Park Saturday night. Photo: MosquitoCoFL Podcast
Drones began falling from the sky after attempting to form a Christmas Tree over Orlando’s Lake Eola Park Saturday night. Photo: @MosquitoCoFL Podcast

A festive holiday drone show in the skies over Orlando’s Lake Eola Park took a frightening turn Saturday night. As spectators were watching a beautiful drone formation of red and green lights, several of the drones fell from the sky, injuring a 7-year-old child.

Blue Angels Return Home Ending 2024 Airshow Season at Pensacola NAS 

Blue Angels Return Home Ending 2024 Airshow Season at Pensacola NAS 

November 4, 2024Posted inAviation, History
The Blue Angels fly over boaters in the crowded Pensacola Bay as well as spectator watching from Fort Pickens as they thrill fans who packed the Naval Air Station for the two-day homecoming shows. Image: Richard P Gallagher/FMN
The Blue Angels fly over boaters in the crowded Pensacola Bay as well as spectator watching from Fort Pickens as they thrill fans who packed the Naval Air Station for the two-day homecoming shows. Image: Richard P Gallagher/FMN

The Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola hosted its annual Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show on November 1 and 2, 2024, drawing an estimated 150,000 to 180,000 spectators over the two-day event. This year’s show, themed “Celebrating One Small Step,” honored the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, a milestone in both aviation and space exploration history. 

In the Eye of the Storm: Lakeland-Based NOAA Team Gears Up For Hurricane Helene

In the Eye of the Storm: Lakeland-Based NOAA Team Gears Up For Hurricane Helene

September 25, 2024Posted inAviation, Florida News
NOAA Gulfstream IV sits on the ramp at Florida's Kennedy Space Center Photo: Eric Moore/FMN
NOAA Gulfstream IV “Gonzo” sits on the ramp at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Photo: Eric Moore/FMN

Lakeland, Florida – As Hurricane Helene barrels towards the Florida coast, a specialized team of hurricane chasers stationed in Lakeland, Florida, are taking to the skies. These experts, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), play a crucial role in tracking and studying hurricanes to provide real-time data that is crucial to both weather predictions and emergency responses.

Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Dies in Plane Crash at 90

Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Dies in Plane Crash at 90

June 8, 2024Posted inAviation, Aviation and Space News
USAF General (Ret) William "Bill" Anders pilots a T-34 Mentor in 2017 Photo: KOMO News
USAF Maj. General (Ret) William “Bill” Anders pilots a T-34 Mentor in 2017 Photo: KOMO News

Maj. General (Ret.) William Anders, a celebrated NASA astronaut and a pivotal figure in the historic Apollo 8 mission, tragically lost his life on June 7th at the age of 90 in a plane crash off the coast of Jones Island, Washington. The incident, witnessed by several bystanders, brought a somber end to the life of a man who had spent much of it reaching for the skies.