This year’s 50th Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In will feature Lakeland native, Maj. Chad Smith, 40, who received his private pilot license at Lakeland Linder International Airport when he was just 17 years old.
Smith is now stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, located near Spokane, Washington. He performs on the KC-135 Stratotanker team. He’s expected to perform Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, doing an air refueling demonstration.
“I always had a dream to fly at SUN’n FUN. It’s nice to get that chance,” Smith said.
The war veteran has been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. His team performed in Lakeland last year, but he was unable to attend because he was deployed in Europe. He can’t wait to showcase his skills in front of his family.
“I grew up going to SUN’n FUN every year, “ Smith said. “SUN’n FUN is kind of what inspired aviation for me. “
Smith graduated from Lakeland High School in 2002. He began flying when he was 15.
“Everything that I aspired to do as a child, it all kind of comes down to this moment. I’m just super excited for it to come full circle,” Smith said. “I have a lot of extended family that is flying in. My parents will be there as well. It will just be nice to see everybody.”
His mother, Jennifer Smith, is calling everyone in town, making sure they come out to cheer him on.
“I’m extremely excited. Obviously a very proud mother of someone serving our country,” she said. “He’s had a passion for flying ever since birth. Flying has always been in his blood.”
Jennifer Smith said her son worked very hard to get his pilot license as a teenager and found a part-time job to help pay for the lessons.
“There’s so much available to the young ones now with the great academies, flight academies and flight schools. We went the private way. There were no classes in high school back then,” she recalled, referring to Kathleen High School’s Central Florida Aerospace Academy, which opened in 2008 at Lakeland Linder International Airport and assists students in obtaining a pilot license while still in high school.
After high school, Smith attended what is now Polk State College, and then joined the military. He’s been active duty for the past 18 years.
“I am so proud to see him fly his aircraft where it all began,” his mother said. “Hopefully he will encourage others who have that passion to go for your dream, work hard and make it happen.”
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