Rumored Falcon Booster Display At SUN n FUN Cancelled As A Result
04.01.24 Aero-News April 1 Special Edition (Classic)
As previously reported in a number of ANN's continuing investigative stories on the subject, the State of Florida thinks that if you buy a new or used aircraft and sign the bill of sale... this starts "the clock."
It is Florida's position that for the next six months (possibly thereafter, though the burden of proof reportedly changes at that point), the state has the right to exact the requisite "Use Tax" (Sales Tax) for the fact you partook of the state's services unless you can show an equivalent Use or Sales Tax receipt from another state... now, in addition to a number of other possible aviation targets, the FDOR is casting its greedy eyes on SpaceX's Falcon Booster fleet.
When informed that the average Falcon Booster is well over six months old (and would therefore require the State of Florida to furnish the burden of proof to provide a solid tax assessment), FDOR had an answer for that.
"Every time they fly a Falcon, they refurbish it... which is kind of like making it new all over again... and that makes them taxable. Besides, we're being nothing but fair... we're only taxing their arrivals, not their departures, so if they get weathered out and have to land elsewhere, they get a break. FDOR refused to answer ANN questions about whether the ocean landings of the Falcon First Stage Boosters eliminated its consideration for taxation... but they did ask ANN (with a gleam in their eye), just how much each Falcon Booster might be worth.
The burgeoning controversy over the taxation of the space program has already cost one struggling Florida event a moment of glory. A returning NASA Falcon Booster was supposed to be on display at a future SnF event, but the FDOR proposal has convinced the NASA Administrator to "lay low for a bit and hope the tax collectors don't notice when we're back." NASA Administrator Nelson (eager to be quoted about ANYTHING) did take the time to put a stop to one prevalent rumor traced to unknown parties, by categorically stating that, "There will be no Falcon Booster Landings at Lakeland -- Plant City, maybe, and heck, Winter Haven would be a piece of cake -- but there are simply some things that even Elon Musk considers to be too dangerous and landing in the middle of ALL those airplanes is one of them."
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