The annual SUN ‘n FUN event at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) is a world-renowned, week-long fly-in and airshow — the second-largest general aviation fly-in globally. Beyond this flagship event, the 200+ acre campus is home to permanent facilities like the Florida Air Museum and the Central Florida Aeronautics Academy. CMT was called upon by SUN ‘n FUN in concert with the Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau and LAL to help reimagine its campus through a holistic strategic plan for the next 50 years. This initiative was initially driven by the need to adapt to significant airfield reconfiguration plans from the LAL Master Plan including a new parallel runway and the decommissioning of Runway 5/23. SUN ‘n FUN is also seizing the opportunity to position the campus as a premier year-round destination to better foster tourism and elevate its education mission, all the while ensuring its long-term vitality and impact. 

CMT’s project team meticulously analyzed and integrated all key elements to achieve alignment with the Airport’s Master Plan. Meanwhile, CMT engaged a wide range of SUN ‘n FUN stakeholders to capture all perspectives, from senior leaders to frontline staff and everyone affected in between.

This study provides both SUN ‘n FUN and the Airport with a strategic roadmap, identifying the future development and configuration of SUN ‘n FUN facilities at LAL as it pertains to the fly-in, year-round events, and educational programs. The study identified the optimal site and configuration for the campus and includes physical facilities recommendations and concepts, including the Museum, the Academy, hotel and hospitality facilities, exhibit areas, camping facilities, and areas for hundreds of aircraft displays. CMT also conducted a study to develop a new Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic Academic Facility for high school students to earn their FAA A&P certificate.  

The project provided SUN ‘n FUN with useful marketing materials for communicating the Strategic Plan for LAL stakeholders and the broader community regionally and statewide. This included an impactful 3D animation that vividly promotes the proposed plan.