Experimental Aircraft Association
Encyclopedia
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| Type | Not for profit |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Oshkosh, Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wisconsin As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
| Membership | Individuals and companies |
| Field | Aviation Aviation Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:... advocacy |
| Number of Members | 160,000 (2007) |
| Key Personnel | Founder: Paul Poberezny Paul Poberezny Paul Howard Poberezny is a US aviator and aircraft designer famous for his work in establishing the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1953 and promoting homebuilt aircraft.-EAA:... Chairman of the Board: Tom Poberezny Tom Poberezny Tom Poberezny , has been the Chairman of the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-In and Convention from 1977 to 2011, and president of EAA from 1989 to 2010.Tom took over from his father Paul Poberezny who founded EAA in 1958.... President: Rod Hightower (from September 2010) |
| Website | www.eaa.org |
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide.
Organizational structure
The organization is overseen by a Chairman, a President, a CEOChief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
and a Board of Directors. Paul Poberezny
Paul Poberezny
Paul Howard Poberezny is a US aviator and aircraft designer famous for his work in establishing the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1953 and promoting homebuilt aircraft.-EAA:...
assumed the duties of President and CEO at the 1953 founding. In 1989 he assumed the (newly-created) position of Chairman of the Board, and his son Tom Poberezny
Tom Poberezny
Tom Poberezny , has been the Chairman of the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-In and Convention from 1977 to 2011, and president of EAA from 1989 to 2010.Tom took over from his father Paul Poberezny who founded EAA in 1958....
became President/CEO. In March 2009 Paul Poberezny resigned and the Board voted to elevate Tom Poberezny to Chairman of the Board. At AirVenture 2010, it was announced that Rod Hightower would succeed Tom Poberezny as President of the organization, effective September 2010.
Local chapters may be formed whenever ten or more EAA members reside in a given area. Chapters are encouraged to meet monthly. The first chapter meeting occurred at Flabob Airport
Flabob Airport
Flabob Airport is a small public use airport located three nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Riverside, in Riverside County, California, United States. The airport is located in the city of Jurupa Valley beside the Santa Ana River...
in California, with noted aircraft designer and builder Ray Stits presiding.
History
The EAA was founded in 1953 by veteran aviator Paul Poberezny along with other aviation enthusiasts. The organization began as more or less a flying clubFlying club
A flying club or aero club is a not for profit, member run organization that provides its members with affordable access to aircraft.Many clubs also provide flight training, flight planning facilities, pilot supplies and associated services, as well as organizing social functions, fly-ins and...
. Paul Poberenzy explains the nature of the organization's name, "Because the planes we flew were modified or built from scratch
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
, they were required to display an EXPERIMENTAL placard where it could be seen on the door or cockpit, so it was quite natural that we call ourselves the "Experimental Aircraft Association". Homebuilding is still a large part of EAA, but the organization has grown over the years to include almost every aspect of aviation and aeronautics.
In 2010, the United States' national aeromodeling organization, the Academy of Model Aeronautics
Academy of Model Aeronautics
The Academy of Model Aeronautics, based in Muncie, Indiana, USA, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of model aviation as a recognized sport as well as a recreational activity. It is the largest organization of its kind with a current membership of more than 170,000...
, was involved in negoiations with the EAA homebuilt aviation organization, that resulted in a "memorandum of understanding" that is intended to encourage collaboration between the two American-based sport aviation organizations, in developing, in the words of the AMA's President Dave Mathewson, "the creation of new concepts that will promote aviation, both full-scale and modeling, as a perfect family recreational and educational activity".
AirVenture Museum
Located adjacent to EAA's headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the EAA AirVenture MuseumEAA AirVenture Museum
The EAA AirVenture Museum is a museum dedicated to the preservation and display of historical and experimental aircraft located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin adjacent to the Wittman Regional Airport. Paul Poberezny proposed the idea of the EAA Air Museum-Air Education center in August 1958. The current...
is an extensive collection of aircraft and aviation displays. The Museum is home to EAA's collection of more than 200 aircraft, of which more than 90 are on display inside the museum at any time. The museum's Pioneer Airport is a re-creation of a vintage aerodrome, with more than 40 additional airplanes on display. From May through mid-October (daily Memorial Day through Labor Day), flights are offered in vintage aircraft.
Technical Counselor program
To help ensure that all amateur-built aircraft are well-constructed, safe aircraft, the EAA organizes a group of volunteers, known as Technical Counselors, who will visit the construction project to identify any areas of concern. Technical Counselors are EAA members who volunteer their time and who have met at least one of the following criteria:- Have built an experimental category aircraft
- Have restored an antique/classic aircraft
- Hold an A&P, IA, DAR, DER or Aerospace Engineer rating in the United States, an equivalent international rating or have the qualifications for those ratings.
There is no charge for this on-site review. The program is strictly voluntary. The recommendations of the Technical Counselor are advisory only. The EAA recommends a minimum of three Technical Counselor visits over the course of construction.
Flight Advisor program
The Flight Advisor Program is designed to increase homebuilt aircraft safety by developing a corps of volunteers who have demonstrated expertise in specific areas of flying and making them available to EAA members who may be preparing to fly an unfamiliar aircraft. A Flight Advisor helps the pilot conduct a self evaluation as well as evaluate the flying characteristics of the aircraft. The pilot then uses that evaluation to decide whether he or she is capable of flying that airplane. If not capable, the Flight Advisor explains where and how he or she can get the proper instruction, or alternatively find someone to make the initial flights.Under the EAA Flight Advisor Program, the Advisor does not fly or decide whether or not the pilot is capable of flying the airplane to be tested. The Advisor provides the pilot with the pros and cons as they relate to this specific combination of pilot and airplane. The pilot makes the final decision on how to proceed with the flight testing program.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Each summer EAA presents the largest annual general aviation event in the world, 'EAA AirVenture Oshkosh', also commonly known as the "Oshkosh Airshow". During the event, the city's airport, Wittman Regional AirportWittman Regional Airport
Wittman Regional Airport is a public airport located two miles south of the central business district of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States. The airport is owned and operated by Winnebago County. Wittman Field, as it sometimes called, is used almost exclusively for general aviation, but has...
, is the busiest airport in the world (in terms of traffic movements). The week-long event annually attracts around 10,000-12,000 planes and a total attendance of more than 500,000. The event also attracts more than 800 exhibitors, hosts nearly 1,000 forums, seminars and workshops, and welcomes more than 700 journalists each year.
The annual fly-in was first held at the Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
airport. Attendance at the fly-in continued to grow until the Rockford airport was too small to accommodate the crowds, and so it was moved to Oshkosh in 1970. A study conducted in 2008 by the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh determined that the 500,000 annual fly-in attendance generates $110 million of tourist income for the three counties surrounding the airport.
Young Eagles
The EAA also sponsors the Young EaglesYoung Eagles
Young Eagles is a program created by the US Experimental Aircraft Association designed to give children between the ages of 8 to 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane while educating children about aviation. This program is offered free of charge with donations and...
program, which was started in 1992 with the aim of giving one million children an airplane ride by 17 December 2003, the Centennial of Flight (see Wright brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
). The program reached that goal, and has continued, approaching 1.5 million rides by late 2009.
The Young Eagles program has been overseen by a series of nationally-famous chairmen:
- Cliff RobertsonCliff RobertsonClifford Parker "Cliff" Robertson III was an American actor with a film and television career that spanned half of a century. Robertson portrayed a young John F. Kennedy in the 1963 film PT 109, and won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Charly...
- first chairman, film and stage actor (1992–1994) - US Air Force General Chuck YeagerChuck YeagerCharles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot. He was the first pilot to travel faster than sound...
- first man to fly faster than the speed of soundSpeed of soundThe speed of sound is the distance travelled during a unit of time by a sound wave propagating through an elastic medium. In dry air at , the speed of sound is . This is , or about one kilometer in three seconds or approximately one mile in five seconds....
(1994–2004) - Harrison FordHarrison FordHarrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in...
- film and stage actor (2004–2009). - Chesley SullenbergerChesley SullenbergerChesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III is an American airline transport pilot , safety expert, and accident investigator from Danville, California...
and Jeffrey B. Skiles - pilots of US Airways Flight 1549US Airways Flight 1549US Airways Flight 1549 was US Airways' scheduled domestic commercial passenger flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina...
(2009–present).
Sun 'N Fun Airshow
The other major yearly airshow attended by EAA members and staff is Sun 'n FunSun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun is a "Fly-in" and airshow held annually at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida, usually during the second or third week of April....
, held every April in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. Sun 'n Fun has been an independent organization from the EAA since its first show in 1975, although the event has always involved significant EAA participation.
The two organizations signed an agreement in January 1989 recognizing their independence. On 30 March 2005 Sun 'n Fun issued a press release affirming the independence of the two organizations but assuring the aviation public that they would continue to work together. As such Sun 'n Fun remains a show with participation from EAA chapters and a presence from the national EAA staff, but it is not an EAA event.
External links
- EAA Homepage, eaa.org
- AirVenture, airventure.org
- EAA AirVenture Museum, museum.eaa.org
- Sun 'N Fun Airshow, sun-n-fun.org
- EAA Young Eagles program, youngeagles.org