Sun 'n Fun (and Splash) This Week

The Searey from Kerry and Wayne Richter's Progressive Aerodyne just sent out word that the popular design celebrates its 20th anniversary this year by "making a big splash at Sun N Fun!"

Searey LSX will be on prominent display at Sun 'n Fun starting Tuesday
- photo courtesy Progressive Aerodyne

The Searey, perhaps the most successful kit amphibian ever (and which is still on the trail of certifying its latest LSX model to the LSA ASTM standard - they thought they'd have it done by end of 2011) will be at the show in demonstrable abundance.
Five will be on exhibit from the nearby factory, and a "very large 'Gaggle' of Seareys" is expected to arrive en masse on Thursday, March 29th at 10:00 a.m. - 20 or more from the cohesive and enthusiastic Searey community of more than 500. 
Half an hour later a smaller group will overfly the Sun 'n Fun crowd.
The Searey will be on display at three locations:   Booth 58, the LSA Mall and the Seaplane Pilots Association display.  
I had a ball flying the amphib at Sebring 2011.  It's a great way to enjoy water flying at either a kit price or, in time, prebuilt as an S-LSA.

The Terrafugia Transition nears production and will be at the show.
- photo courtesy Terrafugia

Another must-see aircraft that will be at the show is the long-in-development Terrafugia Transition flying car, which is also slated for the New York International Auto (not Air) Show this year, April 6-15 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in NYC.  

The "production ready" version of the two-seat, LSA-legal Transition is scheduled for delivery to the first of 100 pre-order buyers by the end of this year after a long development process and ever- increasing price level - currently around $250,000.
The reconfigured and refined design, which originally had a type of canard forward of the front "bumper", touts a max speed of 115mph. "Roadable" mileage after the pushbutton transition to folded-wing land vehicle is claimed to be around 35 mpg.
I'll be visiting these folks and lots more and posting here as I'm able during the show.