By Ted Luebbers
The City of Tavares, FL, Americas Seaplane City, is already planning for the 2020 Seaplane -A-Palooza at its seaplane base on Lake Dora (FA1). This exciting aviation event will take place on March 28 and 29, 2020.
This is the prelude to the second-largest general aviation air show in the country, Sun’n Fun, which will take place in Lakeland, March 31 through April 5, 2020. It will be less than an hour’s flight away from Tavares.
The seaplane base is located on the lake right downtown at Tavares’ Wooton Park.
Kendall Clutts, the new Seaplane base Aviation Manager, says this year’s event should be 
bigger, better and safer than ever. He is looking forward to this, as it will be his first one in his new leadership position. Kendall is a 2016 graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach and a resident of Tavares.
Many of the same things such as Jones Brothers Seaplane Bingo, airplane beauty contest, the fish boil, vendor displays, flying contests, and the watermelon bomb drop will keep attendees very busy.
On Sunday morning EAA Chapter 534 from Leesburg FL. will be providing a Pilot’s breakfast as they have in the past.
Two seaplane ramps will be available and many more permanent and temporary tie-downs will be added. If you wish to beach your aircraft there will be more shoreline to do that as the old dock piles are being removed.
A shuttle service will be run from Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) for those who want to attend but do not have a seaplane. This airport also has a seaplane ramp.
Aviation fuel will be at available one of the ramps. They have 100 LL and 90 octane gas.
Come a few days early and stay after. There are plenty of restaurants and hotels close to the venue. Just Google Tavares, FL and check them out. Hope to see you all there.
When approaching the Tavares, Seaplane base the CTAF frequency is 122.975 MHZ and you can use the Leesburg International Airport ASOS four miles away, at 134.325 MHZ.
