ARTICLE
Throughout its rich history, Sun ‘n Fun has encompassed museum curation through the Florida Air Museum. The museum is home to a library full of aviation research, with an ongoing display of gratitude displayed through their Florida Aviation Hall of Fame. While many of the exhibits consist of static aircraft, there is a great deal of interactivity throughout the Expo. The museum features a presence of imagination, innovation and inspiration that excites even the youngest aviators!
Imagination
Let your imagination take flight with the Discovery Zone within the Florida Air Museum! The play area offers options such as STEM games, a dress up station and a creative coloring booth for your child to learn through fun, innovative activities.
Want even more fun? The Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo offers a Junior ACEs program tailored to youth ages 7-17, filled with engaged learning opportunities that are sure to ignite your imagination! The newly reorganized space includes youth workshops where you can build radios or design a digital airport, the Skylab Innovation Center is a 3-hour immersive aviation experience called NEXTGEN Aviators that tours the still- functioning Piedmont 727. The program is completely free with Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo Admission and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Innovation
The Leading Edge interactive exhibit showcases everything from historic to modern examples of propellers. The innovation in the design of the oldest models is what led to the leading aircrafts in the industry today. The Innovations in Propulsion collection also displays innovations throughout the last century, with a series of engines utilized by spacecraft that has explored deep space.
The Midcentury Innovations in Aviation exhibit features a refurbished MD-80 fuselage, with a special interactive section of seats. You can fasten your seatbelt to discover what it was like to serve on a B-29 or B-17 bomber during World War II!
Project: STRATOS is an aviation-oriented Digital Media Program, where High School Juniors and Seniors will discover what it’s like to be in the aviation field. Students have the opportunity to visit aerospace-related organizations, become an ACE Ambassador, vlog the program experience, gain recognition at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, have a chance to network and interact with the industry’s elite, and so much more. While the applications for this year’s competition are now closed, you can find out more information regarding the program for future submissions or to find out the selected winner by visiting https://flysnf.org/activities/kids-activities/project-stratos/ today!
Inspiration
The Florida Aviation Hall of Fame, organized by the Florida Aviation Historical Society, recognizes a new inductee annually during Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo. The Expo is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of aviators by paying homage to the aviators of our past. Within the Florida Air Museum, you can witness the beautiful display and all of its contents, or you can attend the next induction of a new member!
Throughout the campus, there are several Static Displays of significant aircraft. Meant to pose an idea of what pilots are actually flying, these inspirational jets each tell an amazing story, and include the SeaDart, Vertical Riser, Tomcat, C-47 and Pietenpol.
Through the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, all K-12 educators are able to attend the Teacher’s Workshop, which includes breakfast, special speakers, exciting activities to use in the classroom and a chance to be selected from a random drawing for a flight with the AeroShell Aerobatic Team. This event is designed to help teachers inspire the next generation to become anything they dream to be, including aviators!
The Florida Air Museum will be closed to the general public from March 27th through April 4, however, attendees of the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo airshow get free admission to the museum. Their hours of operation during the week of the Expo are as follows:
Monday the 27th: 9 AM - 4 PM
Tuesday the 28th: 9 AM - 4 PM
Wednesday the 29th: 9 AM - 4 PM
Thursday the 30th: Closed for private event
Friday the 31st: 9 AM - 4 PM
Saturday the 1st: 9 AM - 4 PM
Sunday the 2nd: 9 AM - 4 PM
Monday the 3rd: Closed