Heading to Sun n Fun 2024
Hey everyone. We are getting ready for Sun n Fun and busier than a one-armed paper hanger! Our booth space has moved. We are in the North Exhibits, N007 in front of Building D - on the runway side that is. We did not realize it when we booked the space, but we are right between Extra with the new NG acro mount and Gamebird with their wild acro machine. So we had to do something to spiffy up our displays. All new tent, new signage and banners. Steve Wolf has agreed to display his FWF for the P-47 project. It will have half the cowling removed so you can see everything about the installation. That will be sweet!
We then asked to have Brian Kelly’s RV-8R join us in the booth space. We could only do that because we got the larger space than we have had. We will have three Verner engines on display in our booth! Then, our customer Curt Hosterman said he would bring his Kitfox Series 7 with the Verner 7U to SnF. There is a chance we can have three flying Verner powered aircraft at the show and then, posibly a fourth as well - if Steve makes it with the SamsonMite. I hope we can do a radial round-up Showcase flight with all 4! That will be an amazing thing to see and hear! Please stop by the booth if you go. We want to catch up with you.
Right now, Scott is busy making the fixturing for the tail parts for our plane. It has taken us a lot longer than planned due to outside forces blocking our schedule. Mainly, additional contract work on Scotts part and Electric Boat pushing heavy overtime on me and the rest of the crew. We have all the metal parts cut out for the two sample rudders we intend to build and document. They are proof parts before we begin the Beta parts run. The fixturing is now ready to be cut out, but we are running out of time to do a proper job of building the rudders. They will not make it to this show.
Our weather has been terrible for flying. Mostly raining and then windy/gusty all of March. I was hoping to fly her down to FL this week, but we have three days of rain and two more of gusty conditions forecasted. Our most prudent option now is to trailer the plane down and assemble her before the show. So we are just about to get started on that big job. Plan is to leave Friday evening and get through NY City area just after rush hour traffic eases. Make it as far as possible, then get to FL Sat night or Sunday morning. Assemble the plane Sunday and setup the booth on Monday. The show starts on Tuesday the 9th and goes to the 14th.
We should be able to see partial eclipse on the 8th as we setup. Some of our crew have plans to travel to NY locations for the eclipse. Aaron is going way North all the way to the boarder with Canada. They then will join us in FL later in the week. I hope you get to see it where you are. Be sure to take all precautions - you can burn your eyes as the corona is as intense as the whole sun for damage.
Will try to blog and make a video or two while at the show. Our plan is to get some good air to air shots while there. Talk with ya soon.