SUN ’n FUN 2024
The 2024 season opened with a brand-new project for the Aviation PhotoCrew in the United States at SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. Often described as the “little brother” of Oshkosh, SUN ’n FUN is anything but small, with around 2,000 aircraft attending during the week. Bringing the Skyvan photoship to Florida, our goal was to capture a rich mix of vintage aircraft, aerobatic performers, civilian jets, military assets, and warbirds. The verdict after four days was clear: Sun 70%, Fun 100%.
Florida delivered its full weather spectrum. One flying day was completely washed out by rain, while early flights on Tuesday and Wednesday were flyable under mixed conditions. Friday and Saturday, however, produced the ideal scenario—steel-blue skies and classic Florida light. The opening photomission set the tone immediately, with an unforgettable 16-ship formation of T-34 Mentors joining the Skyvan. Large formations like this are rare in Europe, but at SUN ’n FUN they feel almost routine—and they left us full of ideas for future editions.
Military participation added depth and excitement. An early highlight was an intercept-style join-up featuring a NORAD PA-31 and a Toledo ANG F-16, while the planned KC-135 tanker unfortunately fell victim to weather on the cancelled day, becoming a clear target for 2025. The standout military moments came courtesy of the US Navy Rhino Team, who flew twice for us and even joined up with aerobatic legends Kevin Coleman and Rob Holland, creating dramatic mixed formations that delivered truly striking imagery.
The aerobatic programme was equally strong. We welcomed Grant Nielsen in his Extra, Greg Koontz and RJ Gritter in their Decathlons, and Ken and Austin Rieder flying as the Redline Team. Familiarity among pilots always opens the door to creative formation work, and Florida’s golden-hour light elevated those opportunities even further. A sunset highlight came with Nathan Hammond and Kyle Fowler, combining formation flying with fireworks—one of those moments that perfectly captures why Florida remains such a special place for aerial photography.
SUN ’n FUN is also a true paradise for warbird enthusiasts, and while one major disappointment came with the last-minute cancellation of the Super Constellation due to technical issues, the remainder of the lineup more than compensated. Highlights included the bare-metal B-25 “Panchito”, the highly anticipated SBD Dauntless, and no fewer than three P-51 Mustangs, including the Tuskegee Airmen aircraft, “Gunfighter,” and “Quicksilver.” The warbird programme concluded with the US Navy Legacy Flight, pairing a Corsair with two Hornets. Not everything went exactly to plan, but Lakeland and Bartow proved to be exceptional hosts, and the foundation has been laid for an even stronger return in 2025—with hopefully a little more sun to go with all that fun.
