E352: From Oshkosh to Lakeland: Gene Conrad on Running Sun 'n Fun's $7M Aviation Spectacular

What does it take to run one of the world's largest aviation events? Gene Conrad, President and CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence and Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo, pulls back the curtain on Florida's premier aviation gathering. Growing up in Oshkosh as the son of an airport director, Gene counted aircraft at EAA AirVenture as a teenager to see who had more planes. Now, he's running Sun 'n Fun—a six-day event that costs $7 million to produce, attracts over 60,000 attendees, and requires coordination with everyone from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to Amazon Air operations. In this episode, you'll discover: - The real costs of running a major aviation event ($700K just for tents!) - How Sun 'n Fun coordinates with Amazon's massive Lakeland hub - Why they're making major schedule changes for 2025 - The difference between running an airport vs. running an air show - Future expansion plans including new 40,000 sq ft air-conditioned exhibit buildings - What makes Gene happiest: closing the airport because there's no more parking space - Behind-the-scenes secrets like the Island, the Swamp, and Chick-fil-A coming to the event Gene also shares candid insights about working with 3,000+ volunteers, learning from his biggest mistakes (like the WiFi disaster), and why his ultimate measure of success isn't attendance or revenue—it's making sure everyone goes home safe. Whether you're planning to attend Sun 'n Fun, curious about aviation event management, or just love air shows, this episode delivers insider knowledge you won't find anywhere else.

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So my name is Gene Conrad.

I am the President and CEO for
the Aerospace center for Excellence

in the Sun Aerospace Expo AV Nation.

What is going on?

And welcome back to the Pilot
the Pilot podcast.

My name is Justin Seams and I
am your host.

Today we are talking with Gene Conrad.

Now Gene is in charge of Sun N Fun.

It was a lot of fun to talk
with Gene as he has a lot of great

information and a lot of great
stories and he actually grew up in

the oshkosh area.

So to be so involved with
Airventure and to now be running

sun and Fun, it's just kind of
fun to, to put the two against each

other and to talk about both
of them.

What you learned from this,
how you made this better, what your

future plans are.

And he tells a lot, talks
about how much they make in a, in

an actual event, how much, how
expensive it is to put these shows

on in the future planning just
two years in advance.

You know I also asked him are
you able to enjoy the show?

So I was very intrigued and
interested by his answer because

it's got to be hard in those
six days of putting on amazing event

you might be focusing on
something that you think is going

massively wrong while someone
else could just be looking the plane

be like this is awesome dad,
thanks for taking me.

So it was really fun to talk
with Gene.

Super impressed with sun and fun.

I, I, I really want to go this
year and I'm hoping I can find time

to go aviation.

I hope you're having a great day.

The pilot to Pilot magazine is
in full effect.

Volume one is out.

We hopefully by the time
you're listening to this.

Let's see, there's a massive
ice storm coming here in North Carolina.

Uh, it's close to the end of January.

We're finishing up all the
content, we're trying to get all

the content done, trying to
push this out so we can get this

episode out on time.

This magazine out on time.

So very excited about volume two.

Um, it is pretty sick.

I, I cannot wait for it to
come out.

Thank you so much for
subscribing, for listening, for,

for taking a chance on this magazine.

Uh, if I hope you have had it
by now.

As we said before, there were
some shipping issues.

I got all the magazines
shipped here.

It was like 1200 pounds of magazines.

I'm shipping them all myself.

I feel like I am on a first
name basis with everyone at the UPS

store.

My buddy Gus, man, Gus is awesome.

Everyone needs a good UPS guy.

I've realized that in life.

He's made my life pretty easy.

But thank you for ordering the magazines.

It's awesome.

And we're not going to stop.

We're going to try to, to
continue and try to make the best

product we can.

And hopefully we'll see you at
air shows and you can buy magazines

in person so you don't have to
pay shipping because I have learned

shipping is incredibly expensive.

Like more expensive than when
we ship coffee.

It is crazy.

So if you have any shipping
tips, please let me know.

Justinpilothq.com I don't want
to take any more time.

Gene Conra, sun and Fun.

It's a great episode.

Without any further ado,
here's Gene.

I mean I, I'm not going to lie
to you.

I don't think anyone would
ever expect, and you probably never

expected yourself to say that
you are running sun and Fun and you

are living, I assume in the
Lakeland area.

But it's just like, I mean
it's, it's EAA Venture and Sun and

Fun, right?

Like you think like if you're
in the Air Venture system, you're

staying in the Air Venture system.

You're living there.

Maybe you saw the weather or
it's like negative 50 degrees and

you're like, I think there's
better places to be.

I'm going to move south.

Yeah, well, you know, so I,
you know, again, born in Oshkosh,

grew up around eaa.

I knew Paul Poberesny Tom
Poberesny, Steve Whitman.

You know who the airport up
there is named after.

You know, I used to eat peanut
butter and jelly sandwiches.

His wife Dorothy would bring
me in his hangar.

That was my upbringing, right?

So fast forward to, you know,
it's 1987.

My dad takes the airport
director job at Huntsville International

Airport, Huntsville, Alabama.

So Homer, Redstone Arsenal.

So I go from Oshkosh, the kind
of the mecca of the flying world,

to Redstone Arsenal, kind of
the mecca of, you know, the start

of the, you know, the space.

Space race in the industry
back in the day.

You know, we ran the airport
there until, I want to say, 94, and

then in went to Worcester, Mass.

Ran the airport there, and
then wound up at Dayton.

Right?

So Dayton, Ohio, they're home
of the Wright brothers.

So my dad ran that airport
from 98 to 2005 when he passed away.

But because of those moves,
you know, moving to Alabama, I went

to high school there,
graduated there.

I went to Auburn my first two
and a half years.

So I love.

I'm a War Eagle.

I love Auburn.

But then when my dad moved to
Ohio, I transferred up to Ohio State

and graduated from there.

So go Buckeyes.

I say go Buckeyes, but, you
know, I'm an SEC guy.

I love Auburn football.

It's all good, man.

But anyway, but, you know,
getting up to Ohio State, you know,

graduated there in aviation
management, and I interned at Port

Columbus at the airport there
when I was going to school.

And then when I graduated in
the summer of 2001, I went full time

there, worked there for about
a year, and then I moved over to

Dayton, started working for my
father at the Daytona, not working

for him because of nepotism
and all that, but worked there as

an airport operations duty supervisor.

And then when he passed away
in 2005, I moved up to.

I was a spokesperson for the
airport, did marketing for them,

and then, you know, then moved
on from there and moved to Branson,

Missouri.

And I was.

Worked for a private airport company.

So all these airports, whether it's.

It's Lakeland or it's Dayton
or it's Columbus, you know, they're

all run by municipalities or
government, you know, or county governments

or their authorities or whatnot.

The Branson Airport, you know,
period of my career, about a year

and seven months, private
company built $155 million airport

in the Ozark Hills.

And as part of that, and when
we left, you know, AirTran was operating

there, and I believe sun
country at the time.

So Two airlines in there to
bring people in and out of Branson,

Missouri.

So that was cool.

But in saying all that in the
summer of 2009, I've volunteered

at Airventure for the last 37 years.

Right.

So when I left when I was 11,
came back, started volunteering when

I was 12.

And then up there at
Airventure in the summer of 2009,

I found out that the airport
director position was open here in

Lakeland, Florida.

Right.

And because of my background
and obviously Sun N Fun growing up

out of the Experimental
Aircraft Association, I jumped all

over it.

I was 34 years old.

I was like, hey, maybe they'll
hire me.

And January 2010, moved here
and ran the airport here for 12 years.

And 2022 decided to make the change.

My predecessors decided to
leave sunflon.

I said, well, maybe it's my.

Here we are.

Here we are.

I know that's a lot real fast,
but that's kind of just my background

and how I got here.

So when.

When did you graduate from
Ohio State?

I graduated it was June of 20.

June of 20.

2001.

Excuse me.

I may say 2021.

2001.

Nice.

Yeah, I. I graduated aviation
management at Ohio State.

I graduated in 2012.

So not too far behind you.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

No, that's really cool.

It's really interesting to
kind of, you know, I kind of view

airport directors now.

If you said that based on,
like, people chasing, like, dean,

being dean of a med school,
being a dean of a school.

It's like you have to move
around to get to the eventual job

that you want to go to.

Like, it's usually don't just
get hired at.

I mean, I did a lot of my
flight training at Monroe and Charlotte,

North Carolina.

It's like, you don't just stay there.

Like, you're like, you're
working up.

You want to get to Charlotte
one day, right.

Like, you want to get to dfw.

Some people might, but there's
always kind of the next thing.

And I never really put it
together that people kind of go here

to keep moving to get the job
they eventually really want.

Yeah, I mean, that's.

That's part of it, just like
anything else.

But airports are, you know, they're.

You got it.

You got to move around.

Obviously, I grew up watching
my dad moving around to get those

cool jobs.

I mean, Oshkosh to come out of
the gate, right.

So he was an army aviator.

He flew Obi Mohawks in Vietnam
and then the Georgia Air National

Guard.

So he had over 5,000 hours in
that airplane.

But, you know, watching him
move around, I kind of expected that.

And able to get those jobs
that you really want, that you're

going to have to do that.

And just been fortunate, you
know, I'm not.

Not a genius.

You know, I always say I like
to put in.

You know, I'm not perfect, but
I put in perfect effort and just

a lot of hard work to get to
these various places and then to

get to this job, you know,
it's kind of surreal.

I wish my dad was still alive
so he could.

Yeah, we came here that.

We came here to Son of fun in
2003 when we.

When he was at Dayton, because
we were getting ready for the 100th

anniversary of Flight
celebration in Dayton for that air

show.

We came here to scout.

There's a bolero here that
came from Europe and, you know, we

wanted to get it up to Dayton
or whatnot.

So I came with him here to son
phone in 2003.

So that was my first experience.

And it's kind of fun growing
up a little bit.

I think I got the Lakeland job
to be the airport director here,

because when I was
interviewing with the city manager,

you know, he's asking, you
know, I was 34 years old, so I'm

probably a little younger than
some of the other candidates.

You know, he's probably taking
a chance on me.

But I told him, he's like, what.

What differentiates you from
everybody else?

You know, you're younger.

I don't know if he said I was younger.

Probably not supposed to say
those things if he did, you know,

but what differentiates you
from everybody else?

And I just told him straight up.

I said, I guarantee you none
of your other candidates at 13, 14

years old were counting
aerials of San Phon and Airventure

to see who had the most
airplanes on the airport at the time.

I said, I guarantee you no one
else did that.

And I think that may have put
me over the edge and got me the job

at that point.

So when you.

When you say that, would you
say that there is a competitiveness

between kind of the sun and
fun or the Lakeland Airport area

about, hey, like, we would
like to be the EA Venture.

We would like to beat them in numbers.

We would like to do this.

Or is it a place where they,
you know, that both of these can

kind of not necessarily
coexist, but, like, it's okay if

they're kind of like, the
world's busy, you know, the world's

Busiest airport for a week.

And we have our own thing down
here as well.

Yeah.

And I think that's kind of the
way it's always been.

I mean, hey there, Eaa, AirVenture.

That is the Mecca.

We are never going to be that.

You know, we're probably.

And, you know, people ask me
this all the time, you know, oh,

we're going to be bigger than Airventure.

Well, it's physically
impossible because there's just not

enough ground for us to be
able to do that.

It's physically impossible.

And, you know, at the end of
the day, again, they're the granddaddy

of the mall.

They're the Mecca and we coexist.

But we're great partners, too,
you know, when we do our thing, because

we are the, you know, we're spring.

Spring break for pilots.

You know, it's cold up there
right now, these winter storms getting

ready to hit.

I don't know when this is
airing again, but I know they're

having one heck of a winter
right now, you know, but we're kind

of the, you know, the kickoff
for the air show season, too, each

year, you know, being in
April, whether it's, you know, late,

late March, early April, we're
a little later in April this year

because one question we get
all the time is why?

Why is the date always moving around?

You know, because Airventure
generally is like that last week,

you know, full week in July,
we're moving around Easter.

Right.

So I get asked that all the time.

So it's basically our weeks
are moving based on where Easter

falls on the calendar.

So it kind of pushes out a
little farther.

Like this year or last year we
were like, what, April 1 through

6.

So, you know, but, you know,
our events are very, very similar.

We do a lot of the same
things, you know, but the big thing

is Too, you know, EAA is a
membership organization.

So you've got 275, 300,000
members and, you know, that are coming,

you know, their events during
the summer.

I wish ours was, to be quite honest.

Right.

Because where we fall, again,
moving around Easter, you know, we

don't match everybody's spring break.

So a lot of folks have spring
breaks in March or April or whatnot.

So it's a little harder for
the families to get here and, you

know, those types of things.

So, you know, but, you know, a
lot of, lot of similar things, but

I would say.

And, you know, a lot of our
visitors, you know, they go to, you

know, both shows, you know,
ours is obviously A lot easier to

navigate.

Right.

Because it's just not as big
as far as just the acreage.

And again, Airventure is just gigantic.

And the thousands, and, you
know, the thousands and thousands

of acres that the event sit
on, sits on, we probably sit on about

800 acres.

So you can get around, you
know, a lot of the same exhibitors

as well.

But, you know, just.

It's a more condensed show,
gives you a little bit more opportunity

to, you know, see everything
in a shorter period of time, but

also gives you more time to,
you know, hang out with your friends

and.

And, you know, have a good time.

And that's really what both
events are about.

You know, Paul Poberesny
always said the planes bring us together,

but it's the people that keep
us coming back.

And that's what it's.

You know, I love seeing my
friends every year, whether I go

up to volunteer at Airventure
or when they all come back here for

summon, fun and hanging out,
you know, once you get through the

day because everybody's busy
and exhibitors and watching the air

show and all that stuff.

Once you get to five o',
clock, that's probably the most fun

for me.

Yeah, it's ready to go.

Yeah, it's over.

Yeah, I agree with you.

I mean, I've been going to Airventure.

I don't know, now maybe like
eight years.

I'm from North Carolina.

My dad was an airline pilot,
but had no interest.

I played football my whole
life, played sports, thought I was

going pro, all that kind of stuff.

So aviation kind of came to me
a little later.

Never really grew up wanting
to go.

And then when I finally went,
you know, I love airplanes.

I obviously have a podcast,
the magazine, I talk about it, but

there comes a point where, you
know, after like a couple days there,

it's like, I just want to hang
out with my friends.

I just want to, like, we don't
have to.

Let's just hang out, buy a tent.

Let's just sit down.

You know, Air Venture gets hot.

Sun and fun gets hot too, right?

It's like, I want some shade,
some ac, and I don't want move.

So I have found myself now.

It's a yearly trip with some
of my buddies, right.

We never see each other except
for this one week.

And we just have a lot of fun.

So it's.

It's a good time.

And I. I will give a shout out
to Pete's Garage Bar.

You've probably been there
before, but my favorite place in

the whole world to Eat food is
Pete's Garage Bar.

I never make it over to Pete's.

On.

On.

On the.

On the field there at Airventure.

I believe it's over there by
the fly market.

So it's up there by the
exhibit buildings and all that.

But the last day of Airventure
last year, after we were done volunteering,

we went to Pete's Garage.

We went to the actual restaurant.

Oh, you got to.

You got to go to the actual restaurant.

It is awesome.

We had a good time.

Pete's the most unique person
I've ever met in my life.

Yeah.

And by the way, the per.

So I went with some of my
friends, you know, people I work

with here at Sun N Fun.

And then also I'm good buddies
with Jim Shell, who's the airport

director up there at Oshkosh.

So we all.

I mean, we hang out, we talk
to each other every so often throughout

the year because, you know, I
ran the airport here with this big

event, and he's there with
that big event, so we talk quite

a bit and stuff like that.

So it's fun to hang out with
him because we come from the same

world a little bit, so it's fun.

Yeah.

And, you know, what's
interesting is people see, like,

two different organizations.

Whether you can bring it down
to a level of like, podcasters versus

podcasters or YouTubers versus
YouTubers, but at the end of the

day, we are all here to create
an environment for aviators to come

and either begin flying, love
flying, kind of foster their love

and education for flying.

So, I mean, yeah, there's
competition, right?

Yeah.

Like, I want to have the
biggest and best podcast, but at

the end of the day, if you
like listening to someone else and

you're still a pilot and you
go to Airventure, then let's do it.

Like, this is awesome.

I'm glad that you're here.

At the end of the day, we need
more flying events.

We need more air shows,
because guess what?

There's so much competition
for everybody's attention.

Right.

There's so much out there in
the world now for everybody to consume.

And, you know, we need to.

We need the industry as a whole.

We need to stay relevant.

We need to stay in front of folks.

So these events, air shows all
over the country, very, very important.

I'm on the board for the
International Council of Air Shows.

Right.

And a lot of kids who have
never experienced aviation go to

that first air show, and they
see something that, you know, clicks

the trigger in their brains,
and you Know whether it's a demo

team or it's Mike Gulian or
God rest his soul, Rob Holland flying.

And they're just in awe of
what they're.

What they're watching and
seeing and that sparks it.

And then they go from there.

I mean.

Yeah.

That's all about.

Yeah.

I got a four year old and he's.

I'm pretty sure he's me ask me
to tag along here soon.

So I look forward to the day
taking him to my first.

To his first son and fun or to
his first Airventure.

Yeah.

I've got an 18 year old and I
got a. I got a 5 year old by my 18

year old.

He goes to Polk State College
Aerospace and he wants to be an airline

pilot.

I don't know where he got this
aviation bug and all that stuff,

but.

I wonder what it is.

Yeah.

So he wants to go do that.

And my five year old
absolutely loves space.

I'm at three years old.

You can name all the planets.

I could just get my iPhone,
pick a planet, any picture.

And he would just say what it was.

I couldn't even believe it.

The kids.

He's super smart.

That comes from his mother,
not from me.

Same.

I say the same thing.

Anyone knows me know it's from
his mom, not from me.

You mentioned you talked a
little about the size of the airport

itself and the differences
between what Airventure actually

owns versus what you guys own.

I remember recently.

Ish.

I don't know the timeline.

You probably know better than me.

But Amazon is a big factor
where you are as well and you share.

Amazon's ramped up a lot.

There has.

Are they been a good partner
with this.

Are they all in for this or
are they kind of like, look, this

is our side of the airport.

Don't mess with it.

We got stuff to ship.

Well, guess what?

I was the airport director who
brought them here.

Right.

Yeah.

I figured they gotta ask.

Yeah.

And I'm gonna be honest with you.

I mean the first day when they
came in, I told them and I thought

they would walk out the door,
but I said hey, summer fun is here.

It's a six day event.

It's super important to what
we do.

You know, there is impact so
you need to prepare accordingly.

And the big thing for them is
where they actually.

Where they have built now.

You know, back in what it
opened in July of 2020 actually during

COVID But where that building
sits, it's in the aerobatic box for

the jet jet demonstration team.

So for the blues and the Thunderbirds.

So we wrote into their lease
that they have to vacate completely.

Evacuate that building.

Yeah.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday for up to two hours per day

to accommodate the jet
demonstration teams.

So it's in the lease and they
have to get out and they agree to

it.

I'll be honest, I couldn't
believe they agreed to it.

But what I'd also tell you is,
you know, they also, because of the

event, especially Saturday,
you know, or Wednesday and Saturday

when we do the night shows or
whatever, they cut flights to accommodate

the various things that we're doing.

So, like last year, for
example, they cut 28 flights during

the week to help us
accommodate everything that's going

on on Saturday.

They actually shut down the
building and do maintenance.

Right.

So they cancel all flights.

Last year, it happened to be Thursday.

The three or four prior years,
it was Saturday.

It'll probably go back to
Saturday this year.

But they completely shut down
and do maintenance on the building

one of those days, too.

So they use it to their
advantage as a time to, you know,

do some preventative
maintenance and stuff.

Because that building, three
floors inside, the conveyor belts,

robots, all these things all
over the place, but.

Insane.

Yeah.

But I mean, you know, it's.

You know, the big thing is,
when you think about it, you know,

I grew up, you know, again, at Oshkosh.

When I was a kid, I used to
watch Republic Airways flying in

Air Wisconsin, all that stuff.

And.

And, you know, it does create,
you know, it doesn't make things

as seamless and smooth, I
guess, as you could say sometimes,

you know, with them being here.

But, you know, faa, over the
last several years, we've just like

Airventure, you know, our.

The arrival procedure, the
holding pattern.

Right.

You know, at Airventure, it's
out through all those lakes, Green

Lake or whatever it is now,
it's a giant.

If they have to go into the
hold, it's a giant hold.

So we increase the size of our
hold because if Amazon's coming in,

they'll shut down the arrival,
let them land, and then open it back

up, you know, and we just
needed a bigger hold based on the

volume of the aircraft.

But, you know, it's no
different than like a C17 or C130

or someone else coming in,
too, during the event, to be here,

static or whatnot, you know,
so we just got to accommodate it.

So I think the big thing, too,
for the airport, I think there's

a lot of misinformation out there.

So, for example, you can go to
flatsnf.org our website.

There's a button at the top
says news media and the first drop

down it says sun and fun
future narrative or something like

that.

And so in the future there's
gonna be a southern parallel here,

right?

So we've got 10 to 8 and then
you've got 523 which the crosswind.

But we close that during son
fun because we're putting all the

heavy statics on there and
stuff like that or the, you know,

the jet teams.

But there will be a southern
parallel in the future.

So that crossing will go away.

A southern parallel which
then, you know, pushes us down a

little bit, you know, to
accommodate that Runway plus a southern

taxiway.

But having that new Runway,
having two real parallel runways

here, we can do so much more volume.

I would tell you during sun
and fun because what happens now,

you know, if you got a heavy
bird coming in on 1028, you know,

it needs to go north, right?

Whether it goes wants to go to
the FBO or it's Amazon, they want

to go to the ramp, they can't
turn north because we're using alpha

as the Runway.

So 10 left, 2, 8, right, right.

So we're landing with the
orange and green dots on the taxiway.

So indeed, in order to keep
that sterilized, they can't turn

north.

Once we have two parallel
runways, they can land on the existing

1028, turn north and then we
continue to operate on the smaller

parallel to the south and
makes our life golden.

The one thing about
Airventure, if you think about they

are set up perfectly because
they have 927, they have 10.2.8 plus

the taxiway.

You can work so much and then,
you know, if you got to close down

927 because there's a fender
bender or someone did a ground loop

or whatnot.

You can still operate, you
know, on 1836 to the south here.

You know, we're pretty limited
just having the big Runway and then

the taxiway.

But with those two parallels
and maybe even using a third in using

a taxiway too, we could do that.

We could have three parallels
and run a lot of, a lot of traffic

in and out of here.

So that's kind of the way the
future is looking.

But with that, you know, we
got to get ready for the future and

that future parallel.

So we're going to build new
exhibit buildings in the future.

2 40,000 square foot air conditioned.

They will be air conditioned
exhibit buildings.

Let's go.

You'll probably see Those in
the next three to four years coming

out of the ground.

So that's the goal and where
we're moving.

So when people come back this
year, it looks just the same as when

they left last year.

But the planning, we're moving
forward and getting ready for our

long term future here in Lakeland.

Yeah, love to hear that.

And I also love to kind of
hear how your brain works.

Right.

Like the average person that
comes to sun and fun is there for

the event.

They don't think about, like,
all right, this plane needs to go

north.

How do we do that?

We got to shut this down.

Our heavy planes are over here.

The benefits that like your
brain's probably like always, like,

all right, how do we just make
it like 2% more efficient?

Right.

Like, how can we make this
just more efficient and make more

sense?

So the way that you're able to
do that and the way that you're able

to think about that, it's just
fascinating to kind of get that idea.

And it's also great to hear
here that planning for the future

is happening and going to
happen because everyone wants the

improvements.

Everyone, I mean, I'm going to
say this.

Everyone wants the air conditioning.

No, you cannot get enough air
conditioning at these air shows.

It's just like a magnet for bad.

It's a magnet for one really
bad storm and just really hot weather.

It doesn't matter where you
go, but it always happens.

Yeah.

And I mean, you know, it's,
it's, you got to have a plan.

It's all about the future.

I mean, when, again, go back
to our footprint when we said we

sit on 8, 800 acres, we spend.

So we lease from the airport
about 177 acres year round.

Right.

So we're fenced out of the airport.

We have access with aircraft.

We can get through an aircraft
gate or whatnot.

But you know, when we get,
when we have the event, we come out

of the fence line.

Right.

And we expand out to
additional 600 plus.

Right.

So we only lease about 177.

We don't own it.

We only own 15 acres that are volunteers.

We have a campground on, but
the rest of it we're leasing from

the airport.

You know, so we've got great
partners there and they're gonna,

you know, there's a lot to do.

I mean, this stuff is not easy.

But I mean, if you think back
to airventure, you know, 30 years

ago, you know, those exhibit
buildings weren't there where they

are now.

You know, the way it looks now
where the tower is, all that stuff

has changed over time.

But they did a master plan, right?

And they planned their
footprint out and what it was gonna

look like in the future to
make it much more guest friendly

and the walking paths and all
these things that they have now.

And we just went through a
year's effort prior to last year,

you know, doing that planning
and getting ready for our future

as well.

So, you know, can't wait for others.

And we got to get moving on
our plans.

And we've got great partners
here, for example, with business

Central Florida, our tourist
development council, you know, they're

going to put 10 million in
these buildings for us.

So we've already got that
programmed with them.

So these things all cost money.

Well aware of that.

Right.

You know, working at the
airport here in Lakeland, things

cost a lot of money, you know, but.

But we're going to be ready to
go and start getting these things

out of the ground and get this
place set up for the next 50 years.

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So like sun and fun ends when
is planning for the next year?

Sun and fun.

Has that already been planned?

Is already done.

So we're already working on
2027 right now.

That was a question.

Yeah.

So getting ready for 2026.

I mean it's non stop and you
know, I think something for people

to understand too.

So Sunflond, everybody knows
us for that.

But our parent company is the
Aerospace center for Excellence.

So the other 51 weeks out of
the year we're doing educational

program.

We've got our aviation high
school here, Central Florida Aerospace

Academy, the Lakeland Aero
Club, our high school flying club.

We have the Skylab Innovation center.

We're bringing 4,000 fifth,
sixth, seventh and eighth graders

through here.

We're paying to bus these kids
in for purpose built field trips

in our Redbird flight
simulation lab, our engineering lab,

UAS drone lab, just to
introduce these kids, you know, to

aviation.

We have an A and P program
here on site.

I mean I can go on and on and on.

There's so much here, you
know, but we're doing that on top

of getting ready for the
flying this year.

So it's, it's year round and
something, you know, coming from

the airport side, people are
like, oh, it must be easier to work

at Sun N Fun and run Sun N Fun
or ace because you know, you're only,

it's what, six day event and
you only start planning right after

the holidays.

No, sir, that's, that's not
the case.

It is year round and you know,
and it's kind of, I would tell you

too, just being in the,
specifically in the air show flying

industry now for the last four
years, you know, our show also being

at the beginning of the year
kind of puts us a little bit at a

disadvantage.

Especially when we're like,
I'll just tell you, like when we're

trying to get cool warbirds
here because they're all in winter

maintenance right now and then
if something, they find something

like last year we tried, we
wanted to get Fifi here in Diamond

Lil with the commemorative Air
Force, right?

But they're coming out of
winter, they're in winter maintenance

at that time and they had big
mechanicals and had to change engines

and do all kinds of stuff and
they couldn't get here.

So being super early in the
year is also to get those cool things

here.

It is, it is not as easy as
people think.

Like why can't you get this or
get that or.

Well, trust me, we're trying.

Yeah, like we want them there too.

They have mechanicals, you
know, things happen or they just,

you know, and, or it costs a
lot to move these things across the

country and they have to
choose and pick, you know, what makes

the most sense for them.

Because a Lot of these
obviously organizations are non profits

foundations that are operating
and running these warbirds.

And again, they're super
expensive, so I get it.

I mean, they got to choose them.

They got to pick and choose
where they want to be or where they're

going to get the best bang for
their buck, you know, because a lot

of like caf, when they come
here, they're doing ride hopping

and they need to generate revenue.

We don't take any of that from them.

You know, we want them to keep
all that, to keep these warbirds

flying.

So these people have to.

These, they have to pick and
choose what makes the most sense

for them to, you know, because
they got bills to pay too.

So we try our hardest though.

We're gonna have a great year though.

Stay tuned, you know, for
stuff that's gonna come out this

year.

We have a lot of cool
airplanes coming, so keep your fingers

crossed.

Yeah, no maintenance, no heavy maintenance.

Everything needs to go smoothly.

As someone that has been
involved with Airventure, with sun

and fun, when you go, let's
say you're on a weekend, you know,

someone's like, hey, there's
this cool weekend show.

Let's go check out on the east
coast of Florida or North Carolina,

wherever it is.

What to you makes a good air show?

Because obviously these air
shows aren't going to be able to

get the names.

You get to get everything else
that you get.

But what, like just a core
makes a good air show?

Oh, it's hard to say, you
know, because, you know, growing

up at Airventure, you know, I
was spoiled, so I've always seen

some of the best.

But it really depends on what
you're looking for because then,

you know, then my dad, I wound
up in Dayton and then, you know,

I'm working airport operations.

When we're at Dayton, we had
the 2003 show and we had, we had

the Thunderbirds, the Blue
Angels and the Snowbirds for four

days in a row and they all
flew every single day.

So it really depends on what
you like because Airventure, you

get the single ship demos and
that and.

Right.

But the blues and the
Thunderbirds have performed as Snowbirds

in the past.

But if you want like hardcore
thunder, knock your socks off, your

heart's pounding, you know,
that kind of stuff, then you probably

want to go like a Dayton or
one of those weekend air shows.

But like a Son of Fun or
Airventure, you know, the aviation

enthusiast I think is more
inclined to.

Most probably want to come to
our shows because there's just so

much more to offer.

You know, a lot of those
weekend air shows, you know, they

have the static displays and
all that.

They'll have the, obviously
the military recruiters out there

and you know, local things.

But just as far as like you
want to be see what's happening in

the industry, you know, then
it's Airventure or it's a Buckeye

out there with aopa.

Now that show has been doing
really well for them out there with

Buckeye.

The airport people out there
came to visit, you know, our airport

several years back because
they're, you know, getting ready

to, I guess work with AOPA to
get that event going.

I think they had an event and
then partnered with aopa.

But those types of events are different.

But if you just want that
heart pounding, non stop action,

you know, those weekend shows
are pretty cool.

You know, but on our weekend
we're doing that here.

So our show, when you think
about Sonophone, it's kind of really

two different shows.

You got Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday.

It's like for the aviation
enthusiasts, right, because you want

to fly in, you want to see our
exhibitors, you know, you want to

go to the forums and the
workshops, right?

And obviously those weekend
air shows aren't doing all those

things like Airventure and sun
and fun, but we're kind of again,

two, two different shows.

Aviation enthusiasts be here
with us Tuesday through Friday.

And then when we get to the
weekend, it's a stroller derby.

I'm just gonna be honest with you.

Saturday, stroller derby
Sunday, stroller derby Saturday.

Last year we had 60,000 people here.

We parked over 18,000 cars.

It was single biggest day in
the history of our organization or

this flying.

So it was, you know, and what.

You know, and some people like
it and some people don't.

And I appreciate that, you
know, because you know, some of the

flying guests, you know,
there's just so much going on with

all these people here.

But you know, at the end of
the day, we're a non profit and we're

just fortunate that that many
people want to be here with us.

So you know what, I love to
not, you know, or just have all aviation

enthusiasts and do.

Yeah, yeah.

But you know, we also got lots
of bills to pay and so we gotta get.

I'm just being honest.

I mean that's just a real
thing, you know.

And so we have to, we have to
get as many people as we can in here

on the weekend.

So, you know, I would like it
because you know, if you go back

to like With Sonnen Fun back
in the early days, or EAA at AirVenture,

you could not, unless you're
an EAA member, you couldn't even

go on the flight line.

Do you know that?

No.

Yeah.

So way back in the day, that's
what a lot of, you know, like a lot

of our folks that have been
around for a long time, you know,

are used.

Like that's what they
remember, you know.

But it was also.

It wasn't very inclusive to
allow that little kid to get in or

that family to be up close to
those airplanes.

But you literally couldn't go
out to the flight line.

You could be there, but you
were back behind the fence, literally.

And I think it was that way, too.

Here.

If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone
will correct me.

But I remember when I was a
kid, you couldn't do that, you know,

unless you were a member, get
on the flight line and stuff.

So those days are gone, you
know, but we, you know, there it

is expensive, I will just tell
you right now, to put on some fund

each year.

It's about $7 million.

Dang.

That's how much the cost is.

Right.

And so what's the overwhelming
cost of that?

Is it the.

The infrastructure that's been built?

Is it just for airplanes to
show up?

Is it for food?

What's kind of like the
biggest cost out of that?

I mean, obviously I got staff
costs, so my staff, I mean, that's

all built in, so all in
salaries, all that stuff.

But then it's, you know, then
it's, you know, I got to pay for

police officers, I gotta pay
for firefighters to be here.

I gotta pay for Polk County
Sheriff's Office to control traffic

out there, you know, on the roads.

I, you know, all the tents,
you know, that we produce.

Right.

I mean, just a tent bill alone
is about $700,000 for just the tents

that we produce.

Yes.

You know, hotel rooms.

You know, we're very fortunate
because we're a volunteer organization.

So we have over 3,000
volunteers that converge on Sunflower

to help us put on this event
each year to converge on Lakeland,

you know, just to feed all of them.

It's $72,000.

Right.

That's crazy.

We got to keep our workforce going.

Right?

We got to feed these folks.

And, you know, Porta Potties
alone, you know, Porta Potties, I

mean, we have 600 plus porta
potties, plus all the comfort stations

and shower houses, and that's
another $260,000.

And I could just go down the list.

I mean, get the invoice out.

I was going to say the hotel
rooms, like the air show performers

and the demo teams and stuff
we got to pay for, that's $250,000.

I mean, so it all just adds up
really fast.

Security, that was 75,000.

So I mean, it adds up real quick.

But, you know, but that's what
it's all about.

But once we pay all those
bills, then those, the net proceeds

from the event go back into
all of our educational program.

And so when people come and
they're buying that $45 ticket, they're

buying that hot dog or they're
doing whatever, you know, those proceeds

help us pay those bills and
then go back into our programming

for our youth here in central Florida.

What would you say you've learned?

Whether it's from Airventure
back in the day, whether it's from

other air shows or other stops
along the way to get here to help

you to put on the best event
possible and to kind of build what

you did at Lakeland or just at
the airport in.

General, the biggest thing is
to find the best people.

So I'm fortunate.

So on my air shows and
attractions person, Dennis Dunbar,

I don't know if you know Dennis.

So he did air shows and
attractions at Airventure, right?

So when I came here, I made a
phone call.

So he ran all the air show and
stuff up there at Airventure.

I volunteered for him.

So when I came here, I asked,
say, hey, you want to come with me,

buddy?

So he did.

But I will tell you, he's one
of the best in the industry.

You know, these night shows
that we see nowadays, those are his

brainchild, right?

And he's here and he helps us
put on great shows.

He works other shows
throughout the year as well because

it really doesn't make sense
for us to just keep him here in an

office, you know, and he needs
to be out there in the industry,

be relevant, be out there with
those folks, you know, and be, be

pushing the envelope safely, right?

Be pushing the envelope so we
can put on cool stuff to inspire

and show people some things
that they haven't seen before.

But you know, to bring in
Dennis here, or Jane Winter used

to work for Airventure, just
finding the right people to fill

those seats, I mean, is really
the biggest thing to help drive these

things that we want to do.

Because it is, again, as we
talked about earlier, it's not easy.

You know, it's a year round
job to get this, get this thing Moving

in the right direction, you
know, putting all this programming

together.

There's just so much that goes
in, you know, to these events.

I mean it's really, it's a
logistical ballet, you know, and

finding like minded people,
people that just want to get the

job done.

I've been very fortunate to
just have good people that have worked

with me because I'm not, you
know, I'm not, I don't know everything,

but I'm, I have my talent, I
guess, is to find people that complement

my weaknesses.

I know that's kind of cliche
and oh, what book did you read just

come up with that.

But I'll be honest, that's,
that's the truth of it is, you know,

I know my weaknesses is I will
tell you right now, I'm an appeaser

and I try to make people happy
and I'm well aware that I can't always

deliver and make everybody
happy at the same time.

But sometimes you have to have
the person that's a little more,

you know, on your team, that's
a little more heavy handed, kind

of sometimes pass that over or whatnot.

So, you know, finding the
good, the best people possible to

help is key really for
business or anything else.

But for these, for our type of
events, it's difficult.

But you got to have good
people that are willing to put in

the hours and are here for the
mission too.

I mean that's, you know,
that's one thing is I got people

that believe, you know, what
we're doing here and trying to, you

know, get the next generation
ready and doing as much as possible.

Yeah.

What would you say are the
main differences between running

an airport and running what
you're doing right now?

Is it very similar?

I would imagine.

I mean, just like outside
looking in, running an airport can

be exciting, but this has to
be way more exciting, right?

Like who you're talking to,
what you're trying to plan, what

you're trying to do.

But I'm sure there are still a
lot of, you know, like lawyers, fine

print details that you got to
figure out.

So there's probably a lot of
similarities just with a little bit

more excitement, especially
for six days.

Yeah, well, there's definitely
more excitement during six days,

but I, it was a lot of
excitement when I was running the

airport too.

But you know, again I get
asked that all the time.

It is, it is so much harder
doing this because whether it's running

and when you run the airport,
you're running it every day.

Right.

You're tweaking it.

Every day you're tweaking your
operation, you're trying it.

It's all about efficiency
being better, continuous improvement.

But when you run an event like
this, Sonnofon Airventure, these

air shows, you know, we plan,
plan, plan, right?

So we came out, we came out of
April, we had a great event, knock

on wood.

It was safe, all of that stuff.

But there's always things you
want to make better.

So then you come out of that,
you debrief, you talk about these

things, hey, we got new plans.

We're going to try this.

We're going to do this and
correct this thing that didn't work,

and then you unpack it.

You operate for six days, you
look at it really fast, and then

you pack it all back up, put
it back in the suitcase, and then

start talking about it again.

But I only get to operate for
six days, right?

I don't get to do it every
single day.

I can't fix things.

It's not as easy to like turn
the ship or like, you know, the tram

routes, for example.

When I first got here, I made
some changes my first year and you

know, going in thinking, oh,
this will be really smart, it'll

be great.

It was a miserable failure.

I'll just be honest, it sucked.

It was horrible, right?

But we fixed it.

So we come back out, we're
like, that was bad, my fault.

I take the hit.

Now let's go back to what
we're doing or do this, or make these

little tweaks.

And then it's been good ever
since, right?

But I messed it up.

I'll be honest, that was my
fault, you know, thinking.

But that's what the difficulty
with it, right?

Because I can't go out and put
it into practice before I bring all

these people in, right?

And that's, that's the
difficult part of basically everything

that we do.

For events of this size and
scope, it is very, very difficult.

We try really hard.

You know, but also when you
think about it, you know, again,

having 3,000 volunteers, so
just trying to communicate and make

sure every volunteer
appreciates and understands what

we're trying to do, it is not easy.

You know, you set up
structure, chairmans, co chairs,

do all this stuff, but to get
the message out and get everybody

on the same page is not, it is
not easy.

So I love it.

It's a lot of fun.

It's a lot of stress too.

You know, being a non profit,
you know, there's all these variables,

weather, other things that we
don't Control, right?

That, you know, put the
pressure on and can affect, you know,

the outcome and the
performance of what you're trying

to do.

So that's.

That keeps me up at night.

That's what I worry about.

You know, I know we're gonna
have cool planes, a lot of people

are gonna show up and all
that, but all those things I can't

control, which I'm told not to
worry about.

I still worry about it.

Are you able to enjoy the six
days or is it just like, problem

after?

Like, is it just like, boom,
boom, boom?

Or like, are you so are you so
much just engulfed with, like, how

to make this better, how to
make it better?

What can I do?

What can I do?

But can you ever just sit down
and be like, oh, look, I like.

To tell you, my first Sonic, I
was miserable the whole time.

I'm not gonna lie.

I'm just gonna tell you, you
know, like, for example, you know,

we have these 500 plus
exhibitors show up here this each

year.

And we worked really, really
hard and spent about $400,000 trying

to improve our WiFi, right?

Because I have all these
exhibitors in here.

They need to be able to
transact business and communicate

home and do other things while
they're here.

And it didn't work great.

And so I had to eat the humble
pie on that one, you know, my first

year, so I couldn't enjoy it
because I'm just getting bombarded

with upset people, rightfully
so, because we screwed it up, right?

And so that's.

That's what I worry about.

So 2023 wasn't great.

2024 was better.

I had the most fun I've ever
had last this back in April for our

51st.

That was a good time.

But I will tell you Sunday at
5, when the air show's done, the

jet team's landed.

I'm a pretty happy camper at
that point, but it's stressful.

I mean, there's just so much
going on and you want to do your

best.

And, you know, and the biggest
thing for me is I want to be able

to.

Whether it's my team that
works for me or it's our volunteers,

my number one job is to
provide resources to these folks

so they can go out there and
execute, you know, and I tell them

all the time, you know, if I
don't know, I can't help you.

So reach out.

I monitor social media for us,
so I have people that do that.

But I look at it, right?

And so I'm watching What's happening?

Also, like, my first year in
2023, we had my vintage camping and

parking friends.

You know, people that flew in
were not happy because we moved some

of our comfort stations around
in the shower houses and stuff.

So they were not happy with that.

So I saw it on social media.

I'm like, oh, oh, take a note
of that.

But I'll reply and say, hey,
we screwed that up.

We'll fix it, all that stuff.

But I like to stay on top of it.

But again, my job is to
provide resources and if I can make

those quick fixes, you know,
during the event, then I want to

be able to do that, but also
empower my people to do it too, and

just get it done.

So, yeah, so Sunday at 5pm,
show's over, you're sitting back,

you know, whether you're on
fire, you know, whatever it is you're

client, I don't know, whatever
you do to relax, have a beer, have

a beer.

You're drinking a beer of your choice.

Probably not new Glarus
spotted cow, but maybe you never

know.

When you look back on the
previous six days, what determines

a good show?

Like, what would make you happy?

I'll be honest, what makes me
happy is everybody's safe.

There's so much going on.

I just want no hits, no runs,
no errors.

Wayne Boggs, who's if one of
our air show bosses, been around

for decades and decades and decades.

He always says that at Air
show briefs.

No hits, no runs, no airs, and
let's go home and let's see everybody's

smiling face next year.

That's the biggest thing.

The money and all that and the
performance and how many people show.

Everybody loves to ask about
that, but I'm relieved when I know

everybody's safe.

That's all I care about.

Yeah, and that's like a common
theme in everything in aviation,

right?

Like the brief that we do.

I'm an airline pilot, so the
brief we do, you know, they always

ask, do you have anything to add?

It's like, yeah, I want to
make sure I go home to my kids.

Like, that's what's most
important to me is I want to make

sure, avoid paperwork, and
let's go home to our families and

get everyone else safe.

You know, it's like, it's
really cool to see how that kind

of just takes into account all
throughout aviation, whether it's

air shows, running an airport,
running an airline, whatever it is,

like, the main goal here is
for people to be safe and go home

and see their Families and
come back again another day, like

you said.

And to that point, like when
we were talking earlier about Amazon,

one thing that happens like
last year, like Tuesday and Wednesday,

I don't know what days you're
here, but we had fog until what,

10, 10:30 both mornings, right?

So you have, so what happens
with like aircraft arrivals and departures

for us, you know, it gets
really condensed, right?

Because the notam goes into
effect at 7am and then it stops,

you know, then we shut down
for the daytime air show at one,

right?

Then we have a four hour air
show and then we open again at five

and then we close again at seven.

So we have really condensed
periods of time for aircraft to depart

and arrive.

And last year, you know,
Tuesday and Wednesday and even think

Thursday we had fog till 10,
10:30 in the morning, right?

So then it really squeezes the
arrival window and departures, right?

So it gets really busy here,
right, with aircraft movements.

And so a big change that we're
making this year and no one's done

this is like in the fly in,
like Airventure hasn't done this

yet.

I think it'd be a little bit
more difficult to, for them to do

it just because of the size
and the scope.

But Wednesday this year we are
not going to do the daytime air show.

We're not going to do an air
show from 1 to 5.

We're going to start it at 5
and go to 9:30, right?

So on Wednesdays we would have
the 1 to 5 air show, stop, open for

two hours, close and then go 7
to 9:30.

We're going to start the
daytime air show at 5 and go through

9:30, right?

So it gives everybody a much
larger window to get in here, get

out, depart, maybe go do a fly
out somewhere, come back and then

you can come back and watch
the air show.

So it's a big change.

So we're trying to get the
word out.

So I appreciate the
opportunity to be here with you today

to kind of talk about that.

I got you man, I got you.

But it also gives, you know,
if you're flying in, it gives you

more time, especially with our exhibitors.

Our exhibitors are paying a
lot of money to be here, right?

So they're paying for booth
space, they're paying for food and

beverage for their folks, time
off or you know, paying them to be

here.

You know, hotel rooms, rental
cars, it all gets super expensive

to be here.

Doing this also gives them
more time for our aviation guests

to get in here, the enthusiast
and go talk with Them, look at the

technology, look at avionics,
look at airplanes, do whatever it

is instead.

The air show starting at 1 and
everybody leaves the exhibit buildings

and goes out to the flight line.

They can stay back and
continue on with their day.

Gives more times for forums
and workshops and all that, but kind

of just takes that high pace
and, and gives us more, a little

bit more breathing room.

So we're going to try it this year.

It's a new thing for us.

So we're looking forward to that.

So as someone that's been
around air shows forever, you know,

you've seen everyone perform.

You've seen every big airplane
you could ever see.

There's probably nothing that
you haven't seen, right?

But outside of, you know,
those awesome performers or the biggest

airplanes, what is maybe
something that most people don't

really realize that they can
do an air show that that is very

beneficial or something that
you love to do.

Like, I mean it could be as
simple as like grabbing your favorite

snack here or sitting under here.

But like, or like going to
this forum, just talk about something

that most people wouldn't know about.

Sun n Fun that you think they
should really try and encourage them

to go do.

You know, I think it's.

Over the last couple years
we've been just trying to really

work.

You know, we talk about
camaraderie early and obviously being

with your friends and all that.

So out on the east side of the
airport, you know, we have the island.

Have you heard of the island?

Yeah, so the island.

So we developed that my first
year here in 2023.

So it's out there with all the
aircraft areas, whether it's home

built, it's vintage, it's
seaplanes, you know, our bushwheel

base camp for our big tire friends.

You know, the island has all
the amenities for our folks.

So there's a big tent out
there for shade.

There's food and beverage there.

Pilot welcome center is there.

There's a country store there.

So for our general aviation
campers that fly in, so all their

supplies are there and all that.

But we also do entertainment
over there.

So there are pockets actually
of various entertainment in the evening.

So we do our concert Tuesday
night, the Warbird ramp and all that.

But even after the concert on
Tuesday night, we're having music

at the island.

So we have a stage out there,
we're doing music.

This year we have a new area
called the Swamp and our west campground

for our RV tent campers by
hangar E where our parts exchange

is and right outside hanger E
We're gonna have a 50 by 50, 10 for

shade.

But at night, you know,
obviously the tent will be there,

but there'll be food and
beverage out there, lights up in

the trees, picnic tables.

We'll have some entertainment,
you know, some music out there from

8 to 10 as well.

The corn roast.

Have you been to our corn roast?

Do you own barn roast?

So there's a stage out there
in the campground that runs, I think,

from six to eight.

There's music out there.

We actually have an EAA
chapter that drives around with ears

of corn that they've roasted
with butter.

Right.

So those little things like that.

And I know that they have that
up at Airventure too, and various

things or whatnot.

But you have all these little
areas of cool things that are happening

again at the island or the swamp.

There's even music in the
exhibit area at Sunset Grill.

They have music out there.

So just kind of relax in the
evenings, have a good time, you know.

But that stuff is kind of just
all, you know, little pockets of

that happening all over the
place and just finding those things.

I'm.

I will tell you, everybody
likes food and, you know, various

things.

Chick Fil a will actually be
here this year.

So let's go.

Yeah, so let's go.

I mean, every time, you know,
I love Chick Fil a. I don't go there

very often, but, you know,
it's very good, obviously.

But they will be here this year.

They will not serve on Sunday.

Just like everybody.

They've been asking me that.

No, they won't serve, but, you
know, cool little things like that.

We used to have the Amish
donuts here, and so there was donuts

in the morning and for
whatever reason, they haven't been

back.

And I've tried to contact them
and I can't get them back.

But I get asked about the them
all the time.

So, yeah, those types of
little fun things, you know, they're.

They're, they're all over the
place, if you can find it.

Oh, Aopa, I was watching on
social media this last year, they

have like a trivia night, like
at 5 when the air show ends and they're

having beverages in their tent
and stuff and doing trivia, just

hanging out.

And so I was like, oh, that
seems cool.

I gotta go check that out.

Yeah, you're like, how do I
get an invite?

Where's my invite?

Aopa, I think it's Friday.

Fasaka, the Vintage Aircraft
association over there, they have

a fish fry on Friday night.

There you go.

During the event too.

So lots of cool stuff like
that that's outside the air show

and the.

All the airplanes, all that stuff.

But again, it's all that
people stuff that makes it fun at

the end.

Of the day, you know, let's
just say you have like a magic crystal

ball or even like just you're
dreaming, right?

Like, you seem like you're planning.

You want it to be the best.

It can be 10, 15 years late,
like, in the future.

What's your dream?

I don't know.

Like, we're talking right now.

Like, what would you.

What would make you the most
happy or would bring you the most

joys of 50 years?

Be like, well, guess what?

Son of fun is doing this, or
son of fun has done this.

I'll be honest, I will be the
happiest in 10 or 15 years.

When we're.

When the event is on, we're in
the middle of the week and we have

to close the airport because
we can't park any more airplanes.

That make me super happy.

You know, that happens at
Airventure, you know, especially

at GA camping and GA parking
up on the end of the field or whatnot.

I would love to get to that point.

I just want to close.

I gotta.

I want to be able to call the
airport director and be like.

Or the airport director called
me and said, we have no more space

at the end.

That make me super happy.

I love it.

As someone who has done some
cool stuff and has been around and

has led airports, led sun and
Fun, been involved with Airventure.

When you retire, is there
anything that you want to be known

for?

Is there anything like leaving
a legacy or just continuing to show

how you can build stuff like
this and put on great events and

be happy doing it?

Is there anything that, like,
would really, I mean, kind of similar

question about sun and Fund,
but more like personally, that would

make you happiest when.

When you finally wrap it up
and you're finally like, I'm done.

I'll be honest with you, you
know, now that I'm 50, so I just

turned 50 in October.

I have just been super
fortunate in my career.

God forbid I was to pass away,
I'm pretty happy.

Like, I can't believe the
things that I've done, the things

that I've been part of.

You know, I worked at, the
various airports I've worked at.

But specifically what I've
been able to do here with my team

and the people I've been able
to work with over 15 years, you know,

whether it was, you Know,
bringing Amazon here, doing that

deal.

The NOAA hurricane hunters are
based here.

Yeah, they're the biggest
tenant as far as like revenue paying

the airport.

But to get that deal done, we
had to.

We built them an eight and a half.

Eight and a half million
dollar facility.

Was it eight and a half?

Maybe 12.

It was 12, 12, 13 million,
whatever it was.

For the first phase, we built
them106,000 square foot facility

in six months.

Dang, the city government.

Right.

I mean, so that doesn't happen
very often, but those types of things

and those projects that I've
been fortunate enough to be a part

of and now being here at
Sunflon, I'll be honest with you,

I don't know what else I would
even do that would top anything that

I've been fortunate to be a
part of and the people I've been

able to work with.

I'm sure I'll meet new people
in the future and they'll be great

and all that stuff.

But I'm pretty happy with
where I'm.

What I've been able to accomplish.

I mean, my, my goal is to ride
out, you know, when I'm 70, retire

and we'll made all these
improvements to Sunflower in this

site, you know, to get it
ready for the next 20 years.

That's my goal over the next
20 years, is to do that.

So as long as the board keeps
me here, doesn't fire me, I don't

screw up.

You know, that's the plan.

Because, you know, I don't
kind of like watching my dad.

It wasn't really to jump to
these big airports.

It was to go to something that
you could actually do something,

right?

Because I could have left
Lakeland, I could have gone to a

bigger airport or done
something like that.

But you know, once you've like.

I built a tower here, you
know, we rehabbed the Runway, we

did all these great projects
and did NOAA and built hangars and

like kind of done all that
stuff, right?

And.

But what we're doing here and
what we can do here in the future

there, it's really unique and
there's really, there are, there's

only a handful of
opportunities like this in, in the

country, right there's here in
Airventure and, and I love Florida.

You know, the weather here is
pretty nice, so I'm gonna stick around

as long as possible.

But you know, I'm just again,
very fortunate in life.

And there's really nothing on
my bucket list that I said I need

to go do and you know, at the
end of the day, people, only people

are gonna remember me at the
end of the day are my boys.

That's really all that
matters, right?

That's all that matters, yeah.

All that matters what my son
thinks of me by the end of the day.

I mean, my wife too, but.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But I'll tell you something
real cool, but real quick though.

You know, my 18 year old, he
just grade.

He graduated high school last
year and I was at Polk State College,

Aerospace, but he moved out,
got an apartment.

I have a better relationship
with him now than when he lived in

my house because he wants to
talk to me now because he's busy

with school and friends and
all that stuff, and it's just completely

different now.

So, like, the happiest moments
of my life have been like, watching

my son Gunn, who's 18, and my
five year old Jake, just grow up

watching my son, you know,
gunner play flag football and stuff.

And, you know, they kind of
tinkered around in high school football

and it go really go the way he
wanted it to, but just watching them

excel, that gives me the
greatest joy.

Anyway, I know I got off topic
there, but that's.

No, it's great.

I mean, I look forward to that
with my kid, right?

Like, I'm at the stage, he's
four right now, so like, he's starting

to, like, we're doing the
growth chart and like, you see like

an inch, you see two, and
you're just like, holy.

Like you're at the part where
it's bittersweet, right?

You're like, I just want like,
what happened to my little kid.

So, yeah, I, I look forward to
seeing him grow and eventually taking

him to sun and fun.

When we meet up, I'll be like,
hey, this is my kid.

But my boy James, 5, he'll be
6 in February, so they're close enough

in age they can hang out and stuff.

So love it.

We'll make it happen.

But Gene, I appreciate you
coming on.

It's.

It's always fun to get kind of
an inside look because like I said,

people don't really understand
what it takes to put on a show like

this.

They show up, they think, hey,
yeah, they just started doing this

like a couple weeks ago, or
they could put this together.

But no, this, like, you're two
years in advance, right?

Like you, you plan this year
ago, so hopefully you planned correctly,

right?

I'm sure you did.

You come here and you're,
you're coming.

Just, you know, be nice, give
us a little grace.

You know, we're trying really
hard to make it right.

It'll be great.

It's going to be great.

And we all look forward to it.

You guys have built something great.

You're continuing to build
something great and it has such a

great place.

And like you said, it's kind
of the kickoff for the air show season

and it, it holds a special place.

Air shows, really, Airventure
and Sun N Fun are just two massive

shows that really are needed
in aviation and they help foster

the love of aviation and for
what we all do, community and just

actually flying.

So everyone's appreciative of
Sun N Fun and the job that you're

doing and keep it up.

And we can't wait to see
what's next.

Nope.

And hey, I appreciate it.

But hey, big shout out again
to our volunteers.

You know, we're a volunteer organization.

We would be nothing without them.

So.

So, you know, when you see one
of our volunteers, just thank them

because they're, you know,
they're here, you know, taking time

off from work and their
families and other things to be here

to help us put on this event.

So kudos to them.

Can't say enough about them.

Well, Gene, I appreciate your
time and thank you again.

Thanks.

Appreciate you.

Take care, AV Nation.

That's a wrap on today's episode.

I kind of talked a little bit
too long in the intro, so I'll keep

this short.

I don't even know if anyone
listens to this.

The outro.

I hope you do.

Thank you, Gene, for coming on.

That was awesome.

I'm also going to do a
spotlight of sun and Fun in the magazines

coming out.

And thank you again.

I appreciate you guys.

Pilotopilothq.com Mag for the
greatest aviation magazine you will

ever hold.

I promise you.

It feels like a coffee table book.

That's all I got for you.

Hope you're having a great day.

Hopefully this ice storm is
not bad tomorrow and we'll be back

soon.

Anyways, happy flying.