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Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

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rampil

Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:15 am Post subject: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

Hi All,



Any word on the safety of our friends in Lakeland?



I saw a photo of the Zenith display area: totally smashed, and it is

usually right across from the traditional Europa Display.



The Zenith Area area is where Bob and Russell of FlightCrafters

usually are sited.



The tornado apparently started in Clearwater and ran at least 60 mi

due east

_________________
Ira N224XS

rampil

Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

Hi All,



I just heard from Bud.



He will post a note on the event when he gets back home.



Just briefly, there was a lot of destruction, many a/c flipped, lots

of split avgas. The Europa area is OK. Zenith was hammered, but

Bob and Russell are OK. The Europa UK contingent is by report OK.

Four Europas received what seemed to be superficial or minor damage,

subject to more complete inspection.



Most vendors said they are staying the rest of the week.



I am headed there tomorrow morning. It seems my EAA civic duty

to spend money there this year.



Best Regards,

_________________
Ira N224XS

gregoryf.flyboy(at)comcas
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:32 pm Post subject: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

That's unfortunate to have that type of weather go through during such a big

airshow.

Here is a link to some info, but its early, and will probably be awhile

before we know the totality of the problems. 

http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2011/03/31/suspected-tornado-collapses-airpor

t-hangar-trapping-70/



http://video.foxnews.com/v/4618468/violent-storms-batter-florida



According to Sun and Fun news (current report below), it may not be over.

The weather could be bad tomorrow as well.....be careful!!  :

   

Sun 'n Fun > NewsWEATHER ALERT! 

March 30, 2011 

SUN 'n FUN Fly-In

Wednesday, March 30, 2001

4 p.m.

 

Lakeland and Polk County are currently under a Tornado Watch until 8 p.m.

tonight.  A Tornado Watch is issued to alert people to the possibility of a

tornado developing in our area.  At this point, a tornado has not been seen

but the conditions are favorable for a tornado to occur.

In addition, there is the potential for severe weather tomorrow - Thursday,

March 31 - from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the likelihood of high winds and the

possibility of hail between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

Please secure your aircraft, exhibit, tent and/or campsite and encourage

others to do so immediately.

The air show is on hold at this point until 5:15 p.m. Warbirds and the jump

plane were launched earlier this afternoon but recalled due to winds gusting

up to 30 m.p.h.

Remember to keep safety as your top priority.  Thank you for sharing this

information with others. 

 

 



--

gregoryf.flyboy(at)comcas
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:44 pm Post subject: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

Well, I guess that info is one day old..



Do not archive

rayfitton(at)virginmedia.
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:07 pm Post subject: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

Devastating



http://nycaviation.com/2011/03/tornado-hits-sun-n-fun-airshow-in-florida-flipping-planes-and-damaging-hangar/

---

rampil

Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

A couple of pix from the SnF facebook site:

206351_10100863299657381_2053905_77199032_7405667_n.jpg

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Nice Europa, Looks OK

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206351_10100863299657381_2053905_77199032_7405667_n.jpg

199109_1951470791079_1371922927_32242894_7621577_n.jpg

Description:

The Zenith Area

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207420_10100863359322811_2053905_77199835_4098014_n.jpg

Description:

Poor Husky! I heard Aviat got severely hit

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207420_10100863359322811_2053905_77199835_4098014_n.jpg

_________________
Ira N224XS

steven.pitt2(at)ntlworld.
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

We tried to get to the airport today but we were turned away by downed power lines. We have seen the damage reports, some of which are true and we will be attempting to be at Sun'n'Fun if the authorities allow.

  Regards

 Steve Pitt, Nigel Graham, Diane and Terry Greaves, Jeff and Mary Behrnes

 On 31 March 2011 20:15, rampil <ira.rampil(at)gmail.com (ira.rampil(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 [quote]--> Europa-List message posted by: "rampil" <ira.rampil(at)gmail.com (ira.rampil(at)gmail.com)>

 

Hi All,



Any word on the safety of our friends in Lakeland?



I saw a photo of the Zenith display area: totally smashed, and it is

usually right across from the traditional Europa Display.



The Zenith Area area is where Bob and Russell of FlightCrafters

 usually are sited.



The tornado apparently started in Clearwater and ran at least 60 mi

due east



--------

Ira N224XS





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=335637#335637

 ist Un/Subscription,

 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List

 ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com

 Matt Dralle, List Admin.

 =====



[b]

fklein(at)orcasonline.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:10 pm Post subject: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

Does anyone know whose Europas were on the field at the time?



Was there enough warning to get the ships tied down?



..the pixs I've seen (of the general scene) are devastating...



Fred



 	  Quote: 	
		   We tried to get to the airport today but we were turned away by  

 downed power lines. We have seen the damage reports, some of which  

 are true and we will be attempting to be at Sun'n'Fun if the  

 authorities allow.

 Regards

 Steve Pitt, Nigel Graham, Diane and Terry Greaves, Jeff and Mary  

 Behrnes

budyerly(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->    Hello all,

  

 We had quite a scare at Sun 'n Fun today.  A small tornado moved over  the Sun 'n fun campus this morning.  Luckily Ed Pellenz (one of the techs  at Custom Flight) was at Plant City Airport, and he texted me that a tornado hit  there and was coming toward us.  I could see the rain wrapped cloud  approaching and I evacuated the Europa Tent, warned other venders and we all ran  into the main hangars.  Moments later, winds, hail and rain  hit.  I watched with concern as a strong straight line wind I estimate  as 75 plus mph hit the vender area.  Just as it seemed to subside, the  tornadic winds hit.  Our buildings roof was damaged and leaking, and  significant small hail began and then extremely strong winds and rain hit  outside the hangar  I can only guess at the speed.   I  watched helplessly as the Phillips Petroleum tent smashed into my site  area.  The air was filled with tents, parts and debris typical of a  twister.

  

 A few folks took shelter in tents, which collapsed and minor injuries were  reported.   Soon the storm subsided and we surveyed the area for  venders and anyone who was caught out in that mess.  The area was full of  gasoline fumes from the overturned and shredded aircraft and assistance was  rendered where necessary.  All the participants were fortunate enough that  the only injuries sustained were from falling ceiling pieces or tent frame  collapses.

  

 I will try to send photo's from my phone below.  They are poor as it  was, and still is, raining and stormy. 

 Many aircraft have been lost or damaged and many of the outdoor  displays were damaged.

  

 Thankfully Jeff Beheren's was closely monitoring the radar and had  helped make the decision earlier this morning that all the owners with him  and Steve Pitt would stay put until the storms passed.  We are all well,  and we should be able to get back into the site on Friday and begin  cleanup.  

  

 Please don't email or call as we are all fine, Baby Blue seems to have  rode out the storm with only superficial paint damage.  N12AY has only  rudder damage, and 419PL has vertical fin, and stab damage.  So far so  good.  Full inspections must be made though. 

  

 Tornados are very finicky  They left Baby Blue intact with 4  aircraft within 100 feet all destroyed or damaged.  My aircraft spun around  and suffered only rudder damage, and the vintage Waco's across from me  are fine, but on either side of them and us, is devastation.  200 feet  away, Zenith lost 5 aircraft or have had them severely damaged when flipped  over.

  

 It looks like there will be much work for the insurance companies.

  

 Sorry this didn't go out sooner, it appears the photos may be the  problem.

  

 Regards,

 Bud

  



It                     [url=http://photos.msn.com/Viewing/Album.aspx?PST=8nK2AN1B!1LEiKSdooxx9v4CFFiF2tnPWP2mfc7Vl*v8gunvJlFdFHcVyGIE*X!f1YkN0AHAawi6UOFTRyfheA$$][img]cid:005a01cbf00d$3BD6A919(at)adminPC[/img][/url]



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gregoryf.flyboy(at)comcas
Guest

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:32 am Post subject: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

I think there was two Europa Aircraft in the background of this video from

AOPA (taken after the storm), correct me if I'm wrong. No damage evident

with them, as is now expected. 



Note: if the link doesn't work, copy it manually and paste it into the

address window..may need to be an AOPA member, as well.



 

http://www.aopa.org/sunnfun/2011/110331sun-n-fun_closed_violent_storm_destro

ys_many_aircraft.html?WT.mc_id=110401epilot&WT.mc_sect=snf



--

h&jeuropa

Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 650

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:19 am Post subject: Re: Sun and Fun hit by Tornado today

Does anyone know the status of other Europas that were flying in?  John Wigney and Troy and Donna Maynor had mentioned on this forum that they were flying to SNF.  We were initially planning to start to SNF on Thursday but had decided  Wednesday that the weather didn't look favorable.  Glad we stayed in cold Michigan!



Jim & Heather

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