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Sun n Fun advice

Italiancowboy

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So could put this in General but thought I'd query my 10 tribe. Planned on Fun-n-Sun for the first time. Don't want to fly into LAL but which is a better alternative: GIF, ZPH, or PCM ? Any other "fly in near by and drive to SnF" advice ?
 
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Why not fly into SnF? The arrival is orders of magnitude easier than OSH.
But, if you are looking for a hotel stay, I would look for availability first and choose the airport based on that.
 
There are. Lakeland is right between Tampa and Orlando on a major interstate highway so there’s infinitely more lodging choices compared to Osh. You can add VDF and BOW to your list. Just kinda depends on how how much time you’re willing to so sit behind the wheel. Be advised that general parking can be a real pain in the you know what to get in and out of, especially on the weekend.
 
How is SNF equipped as far as vendors that sell RV10 specific items?
Not as good as Osh. Theses days a lot of venders, especially the smaller ones, can’t afford to attend both SnF and Osh so they go to Osh which is a significantly larger event by several orders of magnitude. Both Osh and SnF publish their vender attendee list in advance.
 
Hi! 3 months after I got my license in 2023. I flew from Atlanta to SNF in my 100 mph certified airplane.

It was all pretty straightforward. Both arrival and departure. I booked a motel and took an UBER to and from.

My big takeaway is ‘it ain’t Oshkosh’. I have been to OSH many times. I have never flown there. When I left SNF. I kinda decided that unless I had an airplane that I wanted judged, I probably wouldn’t be going back.
 
I volunteer at both SnF and Osh and have flown into Osh the past 10 years. I’m local to Lakeland, about a 40 min drive to the South. But I’ve never flown into SnF as it’s simply quicker to drive, although I’m quite familiar with the SnF procedure. Bottom line is both events are similar but SnF is significantly smaller in scope and due to its location has a limited draw of fly in attendees.
 
We wary about bait and switch by Enterprise if you rent a car. They will book your rental at X and then when you arrive, they’ll tell you about additional charges not included in your reservation. Ask me how I know 😥
 
Thanks for the tips, keep 'em coming. We like to hit aviation museums on our trips to OSH and usually go out of our way so thought we'd do the same for FnS like Fantasy of Flight and NAS Pensacola.
 
Kennedy Space Center is pretty close and of course there’s tons of non-aviation stuff between Orlando and Tampa/St Pete. If Pensacola isn’t too far then you can add the Army Aviation Museum at Ft Rucker (just west of Dothan, AL) to the list.
 
Kennedy Space Center is pretty close and of course there’s tons of non-aviation stuff between Orlando and Tampa/St Pete. If Pensacola isn’t too far then you can add the Army Aviation Museum at Ft Rucker (just west of Dothan, AL) to the list.
Also the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright at the little college in town.
 
Winter Haven has a shuttle to KLAL every morning and returns in the afternoon. It is a nice airport to fly into. Should be lots of lodging options close by.
 
SNF is a great 1st time fly in. If you go early, you miss a lot of traffic and they will bring you right in @3-5 mi out. I fly from BKV, @15 min flight.
 
One feature that Sun n Fun has that Oshkosh doesn't: At Home Built Camping they will feed you for a donation and have a Steak/salmon dinner for $20 bucks one night.
Heidi and the whole HBC crew are awesome. They make you feel like family.
 
SNF is significantly smaller the Oshkosh & much easier to fly in. Being somewhat local, I used to fly in daily & transient park until they changed that parking location.
Since I discovered how much fun it was staying at HBC, I continue staying there. Being a smaller venue, HBC is able to care of all your needs with donations collected. You can even fly in a few days early to avoid some of the traffic & there's no charge for camping until the show starts. This gives you an opportunity to tour the ramp prior to day 1.
 
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