Sun 'N Fun 2011

This is the show I swore I was not going to attend in 2011, and when I said it I meant it.  But I did go back and I'm glad I did, but my reasons for attending this year were different.  This time I was mostly there to see friends and the new AirBorne T-Lite trike rather than focusing on trike sales.  And the T-Lite, friends, and past/current customers are pretty much all I saw, besides lots of weather.

While the Sun 'N Fun crowds continue to diminish (see SNF 2010) this show remains the best show for catching up with friends I only get to see once or twice a year.  And let's face it, the worst day at an airshow is better than the best day anywhere else.  So this year, AirBorne and I went simple.  We had two planes and plenty of chairs and we visited with trikers under the shade of the wings while watching the show.  Maybe when the economy begins to pick up steam again Sun 'N Fun will be a place where buyers come but right now it was just fun catching up with familiar faces.

Speaking of weather many of you no doubt heard about the tornado.  We missed it.  When Florida announced a tornado warning for the show Wednesday afternoon we packed up the planes, put them in an enclosed trailer, and moved them offsite.  We didn't even go to the show on Thursday when the tornado hit.  The two days following the tornado, Friday and Saturday, were absolutely gorgeous.  So we missed all the excitement.  But what we saw of the damage Friday morning was disheartening.  Some vendors lost their entire display including aircraft.  Thank you Lord for protecting us.

So, will I go back next year?  I don't know.  Maybe.  Probably. Stay tuned.  But whether I go back or not, if you have not been to Sun 'N Fun you really owe yourselves a visit.  Maybe I'll see you there next year.