Sun n' Fun - Are there good deals?

[DC_Brasil]

Hello everyone. 

I live in Brazil and that basically means that for every part that I search for my M20J, It involves importing it from the US. Consequently, there are taxes, currency exchange costs and retailers markups involved, making things more expensive here.

I am looking at possibly going to Sun n' Fun this year in April and one of the mai reasons would be to possibly find some parts or upgrades. LED lights, GAMI injectors, a new GPS... In most industries, the big expos and fairs are usually where manufacturers give customers special conditions for purchases.

For those of you that have previously attended the show (or Oshkosh), do we usually see good deals from manufacturers or shops during the show? 

Were you able to find avionics our parts at a discounted price during the event? 

Fly safe everyone!

[A64Pilot]

There are always show discounts at the shows, are they worth the trip from Brazil? I don’t know that’s for you to decide

I don’t think you will find any Mooney specific parts though and you may go home with things you didn’t even know you needed until you saw them

Edited January 24 by A64Pilot

[DC_Brasil]

The question is actually what kind of avionics discounts, for example, or deals people are used to seeing at these events.

In many industries, manufacturers use these kinds of shows to aggressively sell their products, offering discounts, bundles, conditions that you usually don't see elsewhere. 

I know mooney specific parts are hard to find, but some companies sell products for.all kinds of planes, like Whelen, Gami, Garmin, etc...

[Fly Boomer]

4 minutes ago, DC_Brasil said:

I know mooney specific parts are hard to find, but some companies sell products for.all kinds of planes, like Whelen, Gami, Garmin, etc...

Make the trip.  You will see bargains that you cannot find elsewhere.

[Schllc]

Perhaps, but would you miss them if you never found them?  
Its much more of a social event and expo than shopping. 
If you like big crowds, fairs, fair food and air shows it can be a blast. 
I kinda felt I saw I ever wanted to see going once. If it was closer to me I would likely go to see the air shows, those are fun to watch, walking through looking at the aircraft, and there is no shortage of those at sun n fun. 
 

[Ricky_231]

There are definitely discounts. Maybe not on the top of the line Garmin stuff (and other GPS units), but LEDs and all the small trinkets, absolutely. Also, it's worth going just for the airshow itself. 

The hardest part right now will be to find accommodation (assuming you're not flying your mooney all the way to Lakeland); you might end up having to stay in Orlando or downtown Tampa, which is not awful, but a bit of a hike.

If you do come (and you should), hit me up. I know a few other fellow Brazilians who will be there. We'll show you a good time. :-) 

 

[Eric and Carollyne]

I'm jealous! Whenever a bunch of Brazilians get together, one is bound to find FUN! I grew up in Ecuador, next door... AMO Brasil!

As far as a place to stay, check this place out: https://fly-inn.com/listing/private-room-with-bathroom-3-miles-from-sunnfun/

We are at Sun N Fun every year, too. We exhibit there. Come by our booth and say hello! Look for FLY-INN in hangar A, right down the center aisle. You can't miss us because we are the most packed booth there! Go to fly-inn.com to check out our logo, and then swing by! 

– Carollyne

 

Edited January 24 by Eric and Carollyne

[Paul Thomas]

The airshow "deals" are also typically found online. I'm going because I enjoy going but I wouldn't go seeking a deal (and I'm Florida based).

[Pinecone]

MOST of the show deals are available online.  You could arrange someone to have the items shipped to in the US and you pick them up or have them reshipped.

Some of the deals are very good.  So are just OK.

I bought my Miller TIG welder at SnF for a substantial discount.

[DC_Brasil]

On 1/24/2025 at 5:34 PM, Pinecone said:

MOST of the show deals are available online.  You could arrange someone to have the items shipped to in the US and you pick them up or have them reshipped.

I thinking I may withhold this information from my wife ahahahahah

Definitely thinking of going to Sun n Fun.

[Pinecone]

Go, it is fun.  And you get to see and touch many aviation things.

[A64Pilot]

On 1/24/2025 at 3:34 PM, Pinecone said:

MOST of the show deals are available online.  You could arrange someone to have the items shipped to in the US and you pick them up or have them reshipped.

Some of the deals are very good.  So are just OK.

I bought my Miller TIG welder at SnF for a substantial discount.

Used to be that you could get deals on Honda portable generators there better than anywhere else too, there is a Huge number of campers at SNF and only a very few have access to power.