Megan Vande Voort submitted these two photos of airplanes heading home after the close of the 2022 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo on Sunday, April 10. Above, a 1944 Consolidated Vultee PBY based out of Wilmington, Delaware, takes off, while below a Cessna 172 departs Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL) in Florida.
Pilots
Honoring a hometown hero
Sergeant Chad Mumbauer is the epitome of a 25-plus year public servant and Marine Corps veteran who leads by example. With the heart of a warrior, he has overcome brain cancer three times in the past 10 years and returned to full duty as a leader of the department’s Special Operations Unit in the City of Lakeland Police Department.”
Maiden flight of student-built aircraft is a soaring success
Officials at Wings Over the Rockies are celebrating the successful first flight of an RV-12 built by students as part of the museum’s’ education program, Wings Aerospace Pathways.
LGBTQ association wins Henderson Trophy
The Henderson Trophy, which is in the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, was established in 1960 to honor the creator and managing director of the world-renowned National Air Races from 1928-1939.
Raisbeck receives STC for EPIC Caravan drag reduction system
The EPIC Caravan STC was designed to address the aerodynamic drag associated with Cessna Caravan 208Bs equipped with factory cargo pods. The 208B experiences a significant decrease in speed and an increase in fuel burn due to the cargo pod.
Picture of the Day: Taking off in Paradise City
While the Thunderbirds claimed top billing at the 2022 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, some of the most interesting flying at the show takes place in Paradise City, home to a grass runway and light-sport aircraft, ultralights, and the STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) Demos. In this photo, Megan Vande Voort captures an Evolution Rev taking off — a photo she named “and she’s up.”
Homeward bound
No matter how much fun you have at an airshow, the trip home is always a welcome time.
Pilots aim to swap planes mid-flight on live TV
In a world-first, Red Bull Air Force members and cousins Luke Aikins and Andy Farrington plan to swap airplanes in mid-flight — and you can watch it happen live.
King Schools launches free concierge service for flight schools
With the free service, King Schools will help flight schools with new training initiatives, including the development of Training Course Outlines (TCO) that can be “easily approved” by an FAA Principal Operations Inspector (POI), according to company officials.