Tornado hits world's major general aviation show

The SUN 'n FUN International Fly-In & Expo in Florida experienced severe weather yesterday afternoon, causing significant damage to an estimated 50 exhibitor and privately owned aircraft as well as a large number of tents and other temporary structures.
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 The Sun 'n Fun event, taking place at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, is one of the world's biggest and most important general aviation and light business aircraft shows with many visitors from the MENA region in attendance .

A strong storm front whipped through the Sun 'n Fun campus at about noon on Thursday, with heavy rains, hail, damaging winds, and possibly a tornado, wreaking extensive damage to airplanes and exhibits. Many airplanes were turned over or smashed into tents or other airplanes, it was reported. AOPA Insurance company said that they would open their tent to help anyone whose aircraft had sustained damage.
 
No major injuries were reported at the event in Lakeland, which had been on tornado watch earlier in the week, although 15 people were treated for injuries onsite, and seven of those were subsequently transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Centre.  "There was a lot of property damage," Lakeland police officer Terri Smith confirmed, "and a number of bumps and scrapes, but no serious injuries that we know of."

The campus was closed down for the rest of the day in order for the site to be cleaned up and prepared for this morning’s 8am opening.   The event is running until Sunday, with demonstrations from the U.S. Navy’s “Blue Angels” military jet demonstration team and the U.S. Air Force’s high-tech front-line jet fighter aircraft, the F-22 “Raptor,” and clear weather expected all weekend.  

 

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