www.PSFmagazine.com | May-June 2019 | 21 20 | May-June 2019 | Powered Sport Flying Sun 'n Fun 2019 Equipped with a rotorhead, big tires, and a big engine, this should be an interesting thing to see fly. Sopwith Camel — Robert Baslee is one impressive creator of old-time replica wwi aircraft. Every year for 30 consecutive years Robert has brought a new design to Sun ‘n Fun. For a movie studio shoot one of his replicas was designed, built, and delivered to the movie set just 30 days after the studio’s request. Think about that! The movie people saw the precision of his replicas. These are vintage aircraft built as closely as possible to their original but using modern materials and techniques. Under the authentic looking exterior is a welded steel frame. Aerodrome supplies these elements for kit builders. Movie studios may stimulate a design, but Baslee’s creations have also enabled a following that loves the vintage look. Of course, the guns in front of the pilot were not real, but they looked it. British military engineers invented a mechanical system to stop the guns from firing when a propeller blade was passing in front of the barrel. Ah, Sun ‘n Fun …where else can you see things like moac, a Sopwith Camel and end the day watching the world’s lightest aircraft fly? But Sun ‘n Fun is over. Even while staff, tent vendors and more had plenty of work to do, customers and vendors all vacated the area, scattering off across the usa as they returned to base. Some have a new airplane. Numerous vendors reported solid sales during the show. Pilots liked what they saw and a good economy is powering activity. It was a fantastic experience for most everybody attending. •
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