Sun & Fun

[ggibson25]

Originally Posted by decathlon737

Ok did I miss something? Why would Sun n Fun consider canceling?

We agree, Bill!


Greg Gibson
Chief Marketing Officer / Director of Air Operations
Airshow Director
ggibson@flysnf.org

[Saville]

Originally Posted by ggibson25

We agree, Bill!


Greg Gibson
Chief Marketing Officer / Director of Air Operations
Airshow Director
ggibson@flysnf.org

Another nice T-shirt would be one that says:

"Keep Calm and Build On."

[GatorsR1]

I sure am glad John (pilotyoung) and Greg Gibson got this thread back into positive territory. Somehow I was falling for the spin from the nattering nabobs of negativity (remember that one?) and beginning to have second thoughts about making the "long trip".
Wife & I have always had a great time at SnF and look forward to it every year. Greg's explanation certainly erased any doubts & it's full speed ahead to KLAL again.
Hope to see you all there.
Bob & Carol (and Benny Jet Fighter, our dog)

[BobbyLucas]

Originally Posted by GatorsR1

I sure am glad John (pilotyoung) and Greg Gibson got this thread back into positive territory. Somehow I was falling for the spin from the nattering nabobs of negativity (remember that one?) and beginning to have second thoughts about making the "long trip".
Wife & I have always had a great time at SnF and look forward to it every year. Greg's explanation certainly erased any doubts & it's full speed ahead to KLAL again.
Hope to see you all there.
Bob & Carol (and Benny Jet Fighter, our dog)

I too appreciate the positive views, not that anyone's negative views are invalid, but good to get balanced reviews.

Still have the coronavirus to think about though. I'm not worried about the virus itself, but I would be flying commercial and I don't want to get stuck somewhere quarantined for two weeks. Lol

[FinnFlyer]

"SUN ?n FUN, the event you know, is the largest fundraiser for the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE)."

In the 24 years I've attended I thought it was a fly-in and get-together with a few things added. I guess I thought so because I first went there to look at homebuilts, pick up odds and ends for my builts and meet up with old friends. Sure, the air shows were interesting the first few years.

But things change and I must decide whether the added inconveniences outweigh the few reasons to attend what had become an annual event for me.

Finn

[ggibson25]

Originally Posted by FinnFlyer

"SUN ?n FUN, the event you know, is the largest fundraiser for the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE)."

In the 24 years I've attended I thought it was a fly-in and get-together with a few things added. I guess I thought so because I first went there to look at homebuilts, pick up odds and ends for my builts and meet up with old friends. Sure, the air shows were interesting the first few years.

But things change and I must decide whether the added inconveniences outweigh the few reasons to attend what had become an annual event for me.

Finn

The good part is, Finn, is that we don't want our education cause to be any reason NOT to attend. I'd welcome your input on those inconveniences you mention so that regardless of the mission our event supports, your interests and the things you like to attend for are addressed. If you're coming, the support we need is handled. You should be entertained and enjoy the event, so please let me know how we can help.

Greg

[swjohnsey]

Are there provisions for bicycles to be used outside the grounds?

[n82rb]

Originally Posted by ggibson25

Bobby, please see my response to n28rb's post. Our Homebuilt service and accommodations have indeed been an issue over the past several years, but his assessment is very flawed and misrepresents us entirely. I would be happy to discuss anything you'd like with regard to coming to SUN 'n FUN; my contact info is below.

Thanks,

Greg

Greg Gibson
Chief Marketing Officer / Director of Air Operations
Airshow Director
ggibson@flysnf.org

sorry greg i just cannot let that one go with out comment. as to my assessment being very flawed, let me just cut a few lines out of your responses.

from post #24.

Second, I'd like to acknowledge that I agree with n28rb's assessment that homebuilt accommodations have deteriorated at SUN 'n FUN over the past several years, and that the current situation is less than ideal

and from the response to my e mail:

What you experienced last year was temporary while we work with the airport to make the grounds more usable for the reasons you point out in your email. We expect to move the area yet again this year to what will become its permanent home, adjacent to our Paradise City area not far from where it was this past year.


since the maps on the web site have not been updated, i can only assume that what I was told last year is true and that the area has been moved farther south.

What you dealt with last year with regard to ground quality will not likely improve much this year,

so buy your own pen, you admit that the conditions for homebuilts has deteriorated, nothing has been done to change that this year except move it farther away, and doing nothing to improve the rough ground conditions that exist in that area.

so where are my views on this flawed? you admit it has gotten worse the past years, nothing is really changing this year, but if i keep coming and spending money, it will improve in a few years?

as the saying goes, "show me the money" fix the problems, and I and my aircraft, and my money may come back, but until then promises that it will get better will not get my business.

[ggibson25]

The reason I took the time to join the forum and learn about what everyone's concerns are is because we do care. To follow your lead of quoting excerpts, your comment "but I got the vibe that they don't care and don't really want us anyway." is what is flawed and what I am responding to. It is going to take a long time for us to get your area right. We have only 24 full time employees, 10 of which are maintenance. That leaves me pretty much on my own to convince an airport to modify its grounds, which we have no rights to, for a purpose that will be used one week per year with money they nor we have for the project. "Show me the money", you say.

I listen to the complaints and try to act responsibly and with concern, and I took great exception to your comment that "they" don't care.

I, Sir, am "they".

I took over 2 hours writing you that response. I don't have time for that sort of response to things I don't care about. I do care, and I'll continue to poll this fine group you have led me to in order to find good ideas and guidance to get it done, and maybe find some help from a few willing volunteers, which have also evaporated. People seem to think that event just sits there waiting for you to show up each year, and that everything will be just like you left it. We appropriate an active AOA on a Part 139 Commercial airport and turn it into a fairgrounds for a week, then we give it back. It's HARD. We have over 3500 volunteers, but only about 100 show up prior to the week before. I'll keep slugging, though, because I love it. Your area has been moved. It will move again. The area we have set aside for homebuilt will be great, and the people who come to enjoy it may not even know another area ever existed, but we'll treat them like they deserve and show them that we believe homebuilders are the most professional and dedicated aviators because they take the time and have the passion to BUILD what they fly. We need more kids to learn what that kind of dedication, patience, planning, and follow through is all about. No better group to learn it from. Thank you for introducing me to this forum. I like it here, think I'll see what I can learn.

[BobbyLucas]

Originally Posted by ggibson25

Thank you for introducing me to this forum. I like it here, think I'll see what I can learn.

Cool, and welcome! So which RV are you going to build?