Sun 'n Fun 2026: New Aircraft, Avionics Debuts, and the Biggest Highlights from Lakeland's Aerospace Expo

Every April, one airport in Florida becomes the center of the aviation world for one week. Pilots fly in from across the country. Families walk the flight line. Companies roll out products they have been building for months. And somewhere on the ramp, a first-timer stands with their jaw open, staring at a plane they have never seen up close. 

Over 200,000 aviation enthusiasts attend Sun 'n Fun each year, making it the second-largest aviation event in the United States. Sun 'n Fun 2026 brought all of that energy to Lakeland for six packed days. This year brought some of the most exciting announcements in recent memory. Here is a full look at what happened and why pilots are still talking about it.

Key Takeaways

Sun 'n Fun 2026 ran April 14-19 at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Florida. The event drew over 200,000 visitors and featured 550+ exhibitors. Major highlights included the Garmin D2 Mach 2 Pro smartwatch debut, a new 7-blade propeller for the Piper M700 FURY, and the show debut of the Beechcraft King Air 360 Crimson Edition. The INTEGRAL E electric aircraft also arrived in the U.S. for the first time, and NASA's Super Guppy was on static display all week. The USAF Thunderbirds headlined the airshows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A new Composite Airshow format also made its debut on Wednesday, combining the daytime and night shows into one continuous event.

What Is Sun 'n Fun and Why Do Pilots Look Forward to It Every Spring?

Sun 'n Fun started back in 1974 as a small weekend fly-in for sport aviation fans in Florida. A few hundred pilots showed up. They parked their planes, shared flying stories, and went home. That was basically it. Today, it is one of the biggest aviation events on the planet, and it keeps growing.

The Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo takes place every April at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The event runs for six full days and covers more than 200 acres of airport grounds. Every square foot is filled with aircraft, exhibits, workshops, and daily airshows. From opening morning to closing night, there is always something happening somewhere on the grounds.

Sun 'n Fun is run by SUN 'n FUN Fly-In, Inc., a nonprofit organization. That matters. Every dollar the event earns goes right back into the community through the Aerospace Center for Excellence, or ACE. ACE runs several programs built to grow the next generation of aviation professionals:

• Florida Air Museum, Florida's official aviation museum, open daily during the expo from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is a good place to duck in from the Florida heat and learn some history while you are at it.
• Lakeland Aero Club, the largest high school flying club in the United States. The program produces hundreds of licensed teenage private pilots every year.
• SkyLab Innovation Center: Around 4,000 fifth through seventh grade students from Polk County visit on field trips each school year for hands-on STEM and aerospace activities. Bussing and materials are fully covered.
• Scholarship and Summer Camp Programs: ACE engages more than 50,000 students each year through these programs, making aviation open to kids who never thought of it as a career.

So Sun 'n Fun does two big things at once. It brings the aviation world together in one place, and it puts the event's proceeds to work educating future pilots, engineers, and technicians.

Why do pilots look forward to it every spring? Part of the answer is timing. After months of cold weather and short flying days, April in Florida feels like a reward. The conditions are great, the skies are warm, and there is nowhere better to shake off the winter rust than a runway surrounded by thousands of fellow aviators.

Part of the answer is also access. At Sun 'n Fun, you can walk up to a brand-new turboprop, ask the manufacturer a direct question, and get a real answer. You can sit in on a safety seminar, compare avionics, and try on a new headset. All in one afternoon. Very few events give you that kind of access in one place.

But the biggest draw, year after year, is community. Pilots talk to pilots. Builders talk to builders. Instructors swap ideas with students. That kind of connection is hard to find anywhere else, and Sun 'n Fun has been building it for more than 50 years.

A Week Packed with More Than Just Airshows

Six days is a long time to spend at an airport. Sun 'n Fun fills every one of them. The expo covers more than 200 acres at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Florida. Activity runs from early morning into late evening. No matter when you show up, something is going on.

Here is a breakdown of what fills a typical week:

The Exhibit Floor

Over 550 companies set up across four indoor exhibit buildings and wide outdoor spaces. You will find aircraft manufacturers, avionics dealers, flight schools, insurance companies, engine builders, and gear vendors all within walking distance of each other. For anyone shopping for something new or just curious about what is out there, this is the main event. Manufacturers save their biggest announcements for this event. The exhibit floor is often the first place the aviation world hears major news.

Educational Forums and Seminars

Forums run throughout the week on topics that matter to working pilots and aircraft owners:

• Sheet metal repair and experimental building techniques
• Advanced avionics installation and glass cockpit upgrades
• Flight safety and accident investigation
• Backcountry and STOL flying techniques
• Insurance strategies for aircraft owners and operators

AOPA hosted a full schedule of seminars at its campus tent. Sessions included a live discussion with the NTSB on how accident investigations work and a real-world legal case about an emergency landing on tribal land.

Aircraft Camping

This is one of the most unique parts of the event. Pilots who fly in can park their airplane right next to their tent. Aircraft camping opened on April 11, three days before the expo started. That gave fly-in pilots time to settle in before the crowds arrived. New for 2026, the Rocky Road and Charlie Bravo campground areas added electric and water hookups. Instacart grocery delivery from Publix was also available directly to the campground.

The STOL and Homebuilt Scene

Paradise City is the experimental and light sport aircraft zone. Zenith Aircraft ran multi-day homebuilding seminars. National STOL hosted live pilot interviews with some of the most skilled short takeoff and landing flyers in the country. The STOL Invitational flew nightly at the grass strip. If you have never seen it in person, it is worth the stop.

Evening Entertainment

The opening night concert on April 14 featured Cooper Alan, Thomas Mac, and Angie K. Campground areas hosted their own live entertainment throughout the week. On Thursday evening, "The Bash" offered a catered dinner and live auction to raise funds for the Florida Air Museum.

Every part of Sun 'n Fun is designed to give attendees more ways to connect with aviation. The airshows are just the starting point. The real magic happens in the conversations, the forum rooms, the camping rows, and the exhibit halls where the future of flying takes shape. The next section covers the aircraft and avionics announcements that made 2026 one of the most talked-about editions of the show in years.

What Made Sun 'n Fun 2026 Stand Out: New Aircraft, Avionics Debuts, and the Highlights Everyone Was Talking About

Some years, an airshow delivers a solid lineup and a few familiar faces on the flight line. Sun 'n Fun 2026 was a different kind of year. Companies came to Lakeland with real announcements. Products that had been in development for months, and in some cases years, finally made their public debut. There was a turboprop upgrade, the U.S. arrival of a fully electric airplane, a world-first avionics product, and a NASA cargo plane with Apollo-era history. The general aviation community had a lot to take in.

New Aircraft and Show Debuts

Piper M700 FURY Gets a 7-Blade Propeller Option

The Piper M700 FURY already sits at the top of the single-engine turboprop category. It cruises at 301 knots and comes with Garmin Emergency Autoland as standard equipment. On opening day at the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo, Piper announced that the M700 FURY received EASA STC approval for a new composite 7-blade MT-Propeller. FAA certification is expected to follow.

The upgrade is practical and meaningful:

• Shorter takeoff distance and improved climb performance
• Lower cabin noise for passengers
• Reduced noise footprint for surrounding communities

For anyone still building hours on a smaller single-engine aircraft, check out 13 Best Beginner Planes for New Pilots before working your way up to something like the FURY.

Textron Unites Three Brands Under One Roof

For the first time, Textron Aviation displayed Cessna, Beechcraft, and Pipistrel aircraft together under one banner at the show. The combined display covered everything from the entry-level Pipistrel Alpha Trainer to the turboprop King Air lineup.

The headline of the Textron display was the Beechcraft King Air 360 Crimson Edition, making its official airshow debut. It was built to mark 60 years of King Air production. Over 7,900 King Airs have been delivered since 1964. The Crimson Edition features:

• Exterior: Metallic crimson, silver, and black paint scheme with the Beechcraft "B" on the tail
• Interior: Dark leather seats with Alcantara panels, crimson piping, charcoal carpeting with crimson arc detailing
• Avionics: Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion and IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle

Textron also announced avionics and ignition upgrades for the Cessna Skyhawk, Skylane, Turbo Skylane, and Turbo Stationair HD. The two key updates are:

• Garmin G1000 NXi System Release 7 adds Smart Glide for engine-out guidance and Remote Wake for powering up avionics from outside the cockpit during preflight
• Lycoming Dual Electronic Ignition System replaces the older dual magneto setup, reducing moving parts and extending maintenance intervals

New Cessna pistons with these upgrades are expected to enter service between late 2026 and early 2027.

INTEGRAL E: Electric Aircraft Arrives in the United States

The INTEGRAL E made its U.S. arrival at the show. It is billed as the first 100% electric aircraft in its class to reach American soil. The company also shared updates on its ERA hybrid-electric regional aircraft program. The first assembly parts had arrived at its Daytona hangar in Florida.

Reading about electric aircraft is one thing. Seeing a certified one parked at a major national fly-in is another. The INTEGRAL R aerobatic variant was also on hand, flown by competition pilot Stephen Fiegel, and drew solid crowds throughout the week.

Avionics Announcements Worth Your Attention

Garmin D2 Mach 2 Pro: A World First

Garmin debuted the D2 Mach 2 Pro on opening day. It is the company's first aviator smartwatch with built-in inReach satellite technology. That means two-way messaging, voice calling, and SOS capability without relying on a cell signal.

Key specs:

• 1.4" AMOLED sunlight-readable touchscreen
• Aviation maps, in-flight weather, PlaneSync compatibility, and avionics connectivity via the Garmin Pilot app
• Red Shift Mode to preserve night vision during nighttime operations
• 24/7 health monitoring and in-flight biometrics
• Up to 24 days of battery life in smartwatch mode
• MSRP: $1,549.99

For pilots who fly in remote areas or off the beaten path, the satellite connectivity is the part that matters most. The D2 Mach 2 Pro is available now on Garmin.com.

Thinking about panel upgrades after seeing the Garmin news? How to Choose the Right Avionics for Small Aircraft is a good place to start.

Garmin Smart Charts: VFR Arrival into Lakeland

Garmin also built a Smart Chart for the Lake Parker VFR Arrival into Lakeland. It was added to the 2604 database cycle update for GPS navigators. Smart Charts show only the data you need for your current flight. That cuts down on cockpit clutter during busy arrivals like the one into Sun 'n Fun.

The Airshow: Thunderbirds, a New Format, and NASA's Most Recognizable Cargo Plane

USAF Thunderbirds Headline the Weekend

The Thunderbirds flew Friday through Sunday (April 17-19), with six F-16 Fighting Falcons in their signature precision formation. Also on the schedule across the week:

• F-22 Raptor Demo Team including a Heritage Flight paired with a P-51 Mustang
• U.S. Navy F/A-18 Rhino Demo Team with high-speed Super Hornet demonstrations
• USAF C-17 Demo Team showing the heavy transport's agility with low-level passes, tactical descents, and backing-up maneuvers
• Freedom 250 F-5 Team, a three-ship patriotic formation marking America's 250th anniversary

The New Composite Airshow Format

Wednesday introduced a new concept: the Composite Airshow. Instead of a separate daytime and night show, organizers combined both into one continuous performance from 5:00 PM to 9:15 PM. The show started in full daylight, moved through twilight, and finished with illuminated aerobatics and fireworks. Attendees got a full day on the grounds before the show started, and pilots had more flexibility in the arrival and departure window.

NASA's Super Guppy: The Most Unique Static Display on the Field

The most talked-about static display was not a new production aircraft. It was a NASA cargo plane that helped build the Apollo program.

The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy was on static display all week, the result of three years of planning between Sun 'n Fun and NASA. Only four Super Guppy Turbines were ever built. Its cargo hold measures 111 feet long and 25 feet wide, and it can carry two T-38s at the same time. The bulbous fuselage and swing-open nose make it one of the most well-known aircraft shapes in the world.

During the show, the Super Guppy crew flew to San Diego to pick up the Artemis II astronauts after their splashdown. This aircraft is still doing real work for America's space program. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman appeared on-site Wednesday to discuss the Artemis program. A NASA T-38 Talon, used to train astronauts, was also on static display from Wednesday through Saturday.

Sun 'n Fun has always been a place where aviation history and aviation's future show up in the same week. This year, they were parked right next to each other on the ramp.

Conclusion

Sun 'n Fun has been bringing the aviation world together for more than 50 years. Every year, it delivers something worth the trip. Sun 'n Fun 2026 was no different. New aircraft technology, world-first product debuts, a NASA cargo plane with Apollo-era history, and one of the best airshow lineups in years made for a week worth talking about.

This year's show made one thing clear: general aviation is moving fast. Electric aircraft are arriving on U.S. soil. Avionics are getting smarter and more connected. Manufacturers are building planes with safety systems that can land themselves in an emergency. And Sun 'n Fun remains the place where all of that comes together in one week, under one Florida sky.

If you missed the show this year, now is a great time to start planning for 2027. 

And if you want to stay current on general aviation news, aircraft profiles, avionics updates, and buying guides, the team at Flying411 has you covered. Visit Flying411.com and keep your passion for flight going all year long.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sun 'n Fun a good event for families and non-pilots?

Yes. Sun 'n Fun welcomes everyone. There are airshows, food vendors, exhibits, and live music for non-pilots. Children 12 and under get in free. A Family Oasis area with air conditioning, seating, and nursing facilities is available on-site for families with young children.

Can you actually buy an aircraft at Sun 'n Fun?

Yes. Many manufacturers and brokers display aircraft at the show, and some conduct sales on-site. It is also one of the best places to look at aircraft in person, talk to factory reps, and compare options before you buy.

Are there resources at Sun 'n Fun for student pilots?

Yes. Flight schools actively recruit students at the expo, and forums cover training topics throughout the week. AOPA staff are on-site to answer aviation questions. Career fair booths from aviation companies are also on-site for students who want to fly for a living.

What should first-time attendees know before going?

Wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen. The expo covers 200+ acres on an active airport. Sun 'n Fun is fully cashless, so bring a card. A free shuttle connects the expo with downtown Lakeland hotels and parking areas every 25 minutes throughout the event.

How does Sun 'n Fun compare to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh?

Both are major general aviation fly-ins, but Sun 'n Fun is smaller and held in spring in warm Florida weather. It has a strong focus on experimental and light sport aircraft. EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the largest aviation event in the world and typically draws 600,000+ visitors each July.