April 12-14, 2010 - Sun 'N Fun 2010 RVs

Well, as you might imagine, the RVs in the homebuilt parking section easily out-numbered all the other types combined.  I would say there were roughly 70 RVs in the homebuilt parking section while I was at SNF, another 30 or so in the homebuilt camping. 

I particularly liked the bright red paint job on this RV.

 
The paintjob on this RV-10 was unbelievable.
 
Check out the palm tree on the wing.
 
A nice polish job on this RV-8A.
 
Nice rudder-lock.
 
One of the better RV-12 paint-jobs I've seen so far. 
 
Another nice polish job. 
 
But what was striking about this RV-8 were the decal exhausts and gun-ports. 
 
The Judges checking out an RV-10.
 
I liked this RV-8 done up in Navy markings.
 

Van checking it out as well.

I wonder what goes through Van's mind when he walks through all the RVs?  He must be incredibly proud. 

 
Another attractive paint job. 
 
A freshly built RV-12. 
 
Have you noticed I like polished-aluminum RVs?
 
But this one had some great nose art. 
 
What makes this nice-looking RV-8 special is that there is a big angel airbrushed on the underside.  You'd have to be in the air to get a good picture of it though. 
 
A Mazda rotary-powered RV drew a lot of interest. 
 
George K., the president of our local EAA Chapter, flew his RV-8 down and setup in the homebuilt camping area. 
 
A row of RVs in the homebuilt camping area.
 
 
Another row. 
 
This RV won the "Perseverance Award".  Richly deserved as it took 17 years and two months to build!
 
A very nice looking RV-10.
 
Check out that nose art!
 
Of course, I have to include a picture of my own ride.  With the insignia and invasion stripes, I think it can hold its own appearance wise against most of the other RVs. 
 
This RV-8 is painted the same way as the AeroShell Aerobatic Team T-6s. 
 
This RV-7A was parked next to me in the camping area and hails from Texas.  Some serious checkerboard action going on. 
 
I went to the Van's Aircraft Company Banquet Wednesday night.   This was the first one of these I've been to.  Price was $20.  Social hour started at 5:30.  Beer was free but you had to pay for mixed drinks.  I didn't know anyone other than Mitch Lock but since we were all RVers, it was easy to strike up a conversation with people. 
 
The dinner was catered and it was the best food I was to have all week:  barbecued chicken & ribs, baked beans, potato salad, green beens and corn on the cob. 
 
Hat tip to Gary for the next three pics.  That's me in the red shirt.
 
After dinner. Gus of Van's was the MC and main speaker.  He talked about how many RVs were now flying and that they expect to reach 7000 by the fall.  It's really quite amazing when you consider how much it takes to build a flying plane.  The RV-7A kit is currently their best seller.  There was a lot of talk about the RV-12, since it's their newest kit. 
 
Van thanked the audience for their business and support. 
 
All in all, I enjoyed the banquet.  And to top it off, I won a $50 gift certificate to Vans as a door prize.   
 
The Van's booth was always busy.  That's Mitch Lock's blue RV-12 in the middle. 
 
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