Tornado
hits Sun N Fun 2011, Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News
newsmagazine.
Light Sport Aircraft Pilot is a directory of aircraft that generally fit
into what are described as ultralight aircraft, advanced ultralight
aircraft,
light sport aircraft, experimental light sport aircraft, experimental
aircraft, amateur built aircraft, ELSA or homebuilt
aircraft in the United States and Canada. These include
weight shift aircraft, more commonly known as trikes,
powered parachutes, and powered para-gliders.
The tornado that hit the 2011
EAA Sun N Fun conventional was classified by the National
Weather Service as a Category EF1.
It had estimated winds of 95 mph accompanied by rain and
hail. Another unusual phenomenon in the storm was "downburst
thunderstorms with severe straight line winds.
While the storm only lasted about 10 minutes it cut a swath
of destruction through the lightsport and ultralight section
as well as the Sun N Fun campus, and the commercial display
area.
Early estimates said damage occurred to about 40
aircraft, that count was later increased to over 70.
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No fatalities were reported
at the show because of the storm, but a security
guard was rushed to a local hospital when the kiosk he was
in collapsed around him when the storm hit. The damage in the light sport and ultralight
area would have been considerably higher had the exhibitors
not moved their craft into hangars just hours before the
storm hit.
Even so several pilots suffered complete loss of their
aircraft. Manufacturers such as Kolb also suffered damage to
aircraft and their trailer which was flipped by the high
winds. The folks from HKS lost their Corsario amphibious
aircraft.
At least three Quicksilver's were destroyed as were several
vendors trailers and kiosks. Police and volunteers were
quick to respond to the potential of people being trapped in
out houses which were blown in the creek, or were blown
over. Each was checked as soon as possible after the storm
subsided.
The showers for campers in the ultralight and lightsport
aircraft area, which were right beside my van were
completely destroyed, and the former camp store was moved
off its footings and a section of the roof torn away
Zenith Aircraft was also hard
hit in the commercial area as was Lockwood Aviation, and
RANS Aircraft.
The showers for campers in
the ultralight and lightsport aircraft area, which were
right beside my van were completely destroyed, and the
former camp store was moved off its footings and a section
of the roof torn away
Police and volunteers were
quick to respond to the potential of people being trapped in
out houses which were blown in the creek, or were blown
over. Each was checked as soon as possible after the storm
subsided
Here you can see the crumpled
remains of a two seat Quicksilver. The
Quicksilver Sport in the background travelled over 500 feet before coming to rest in
a fence.
Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News Web Magazine.
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