As the Aerospace Expo Approaches, Headlining Acts Call their Shots

The Blue Angels unveiled their 2023 air show schedule, and their first headline act? The 49th annual Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo.

Their upcoming performance will feature the upgraded, newer F/A-18 Super Hornets after making the switch from their older legacy aircraft. Moving away from  the smaller, lighter fighter for their display has necessitated a few changes in devising their new routines, namely because of the increased size and planform of the Super Hornet. Compared to past shows, the new fighter may appear lower to the ground than before, necessitating some fine tuning before showtime. The Angels recently made their way to Lakeland, Florida to scope out their event and maximize attendee time while at Sun n' Fun. 

Dennis Dunbar, SnF director of airshows and attractions, said the "show is always evolving and weather sometimes drives the show, so every show is different. You'll see a lot of the classic maneuvers we've come to love and sprinkling in some new maneuvers."

"We are really focused on the customers and guest experience this year," said Gene Conrad, CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence (the ones throwing this shindig). "Hopefully these changes will be great, people will recognize it and make it much easier for them to have a great time. We want them to be happy as they are coming in - not frustrated."

In the lead up to the March expo, Conrad advised future attendees that they should pre-purchase their parking passes and tickets to take advantage of their new system to limit road congestion. The grounds will boast a number of QoL improvements and attractions aimed at increasing attendee comfort throughout the week. From better sightlines of the aircraft to improved traffic flows, this year's Sun n' Fun is shaping up to be better than ever. 

FMI: www.flysnf.org