Experimental Aircraft Association facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Experimental Aircraft Association

Abbreviation	EAA
Formation	1953; 72 years ago (1953) in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, U.S.
Founder	Paul Poberezny
Type	Nonprofit organization
Legal status	501(c)(3)
Purpose	To grow aviation through participation and education, to deliver educational offerings and activities that guide new participants, and to reduce barriers to participation.
Headquarters	Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.
Area served	Worldwide
Membership (2017)	200,000+
Key people	Jack Pelton (CEO and chairman) Tom Poberezny (chairman emeritus until his death in 2022) Sean Tucker & Jimmy Graham (Young Eagles co-chairmen)
Subsidiaries	EAA IMC LLC, EAA STC LLC, EAA Aviation Foundation Inc (501(c)(3)
Revenue (2018)	$39,868,940
Expenses (2018)	$37,997,229
Employees (2017)	872
Volunteers (2017)	5,500

EAA AirVenture 2004

Skywriting over Oshkosh, WI during AirVenture 2008

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is a big international group for people who love aviation (flying!). It's based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the United States.

Since it started, the EAA has grown a lot. It now has over 200,000 members and almost 1,000 local groups all around the world. The EAA also hosts the biggest aviation event of its kind. It's called EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

History of the EAA

The EAA was started in 1953 by a pilot named Paul Poberezny and other aviation fans. At first, it was like a small flying club. Paul Poberezny explained why they chose the name "Experimental Aircraft Association." He said that the planes they flew were often changed or built from scratch. These planes had to have an "EXPERIMENTAL" sign on them. So, it made sense to call their group the "Experimental Aircraft Association."

The EAA officially became an organization in Wisconsin in 1955. Building your own aircraft is still a big part of the EAA. But over the years, the group has grown to include almost every part of aviation and flying.

EAA Headquarters and Museum

The EAA first started in the basement of Paul Poberezny's home. In the early 1960s, the EAA built its first main office in a town called Franklin. In 1983, the EAA moved its main office and its big annual fly-in event to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh also has the EAA Aviation Museum. This museum has more than 200 aircraft. About 130 of these planes are always on display for visitors to see.

EAA Publications

In 1953, the EAA started a small newsletter called The Experimenter. Paul and Audrey Poberezny, along with other volunteers, wrote and published it. Later, the newsletter became a magazine called Sport Aviation. Members of the EAA get this magazine as part of their membership. The name Experimenter is still used for an online magazine. It's for people who build their own planes.

EAA Aviation Museum

EAA Aviation Museum

Eagle Hangar at the EAA Aviation Museum

EAA Air Adventure Museum sign on Interstate 41

The EAA Aviation Museum opened in 1983. It is right next to the EAA's main office in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The museum has a huge collection of aircraft and aviation displays.

The museum is home to over 200 aircraft that the EAA owns. More than 90 of these planes are always on display inside the museum. The museum also has a place called Pioneer Airport. It looks like an old-fashioned airport. It has more than 40 extra airplanes on display. From May to mid-October, you can even take flights in old airplanes there!

EAA Programs and Activities

The EAA offers many programs to help people learn about aviation and fly safely.

Technical Counselor Program

The EAA has a group of volunteers called Technical Counselors. They help make sure that all amateur-built aircraft are built well and are safe. These volunteers visit construction projects to check for any problems.

Technical Counselors are EAA members who give their time for free. They have experience building or restoring aircraft. They might also have special aviation licenses. There is no cost for this check-up. The counselor's advice is just a suggestion. The EAA suggests having at least three visits from a Technical Counselor while building a plane.

Flight Advisor Program

The Flight Advisor Program helps make homebuilt aircraft flying safer. It has volunteers who are experts in flying. They help EAA members who are getting ready to fly a new or unfamiliar aircraft.

A Flight Advisor helps the pilot check their own skills. They also help the pilot understand how the aircraft flies. Pilots use this information to decide if they can fly that plane safely. If not, the Flight Advisor explains how the pilot can get the right training. The Advisor does not fly the plane or decide for the pilot. The pilot makes the final decision on how to fly the plane safely.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Wittman Field during the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow 2011

Every summer, the EAA hosts the biggest annual event for general aviation in the world. It's called EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, or often just "Oshkosh Airshow." During this event, the city's airport, Wittman Regional Airport, becomes the busiest airport in the world!

This week-long event brings in about 10,000 to 12,000 planes. More than 500,000 people attend each year. The event also has over 800 exhibitors. It hosts almost 1,000 talks, classes, and workshops. More than 700 journalists also come to cover the event.

The first annual fly-in was held in 1953 in Milwaukee. In 1959, the event grew and moved to the Rockford, Illinois airport. It kept growing until the Rockford airport was too small. So, in 1970, it moved to Oshkosh. A study in 2017 found that the event brings over $170 million to the area. It also attracts nearly 600,000 people.

Young Eagles Program

A GlaStar built for Young Eagles flights

The EAA also runs the Young Eagles program. It started in 1992. The goal was to give one million children an airplane ride by December 17, 2003. This date was the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight. The program reached its goal! It has continued, and by July 2016, over 2 million young people had flown. Many more have learned about the benefits of general aviation.

Famous people have led the Young Eagles program:

• Cliff Robertson - an actor (1992–1994)
• Chuck Yeager - a U.S. Air Force General and the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound (1994–2004)
• Harrison Ford - an actor (2004–2009)
• Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey B. Skiles - pilots of US Airways Flight 1549 (2009–2013)
• Sean D. Tucker - an aerobatic pilot (2013–present)
• Jimmy Graham - a football player (2018–present)

EAA Leadership

Founder Paul Poberezny driving "Red One" at AirVenture 2010

Chairman and CEO Jack Pelton in 2018

The EAA is led by a chairman, a president, a CEO, and a board of directors. Paul Poberezny was the first president and CEO when the EAA started in 1953. In 1989, he became the chairman, and his son, Tom Poberezny, became president and CEO.

In 2009, Paul Poberezny stepped down. Tom Poberezny then became the chairman. In 2010, Rod Hightower became the new president. However, Hightower resigned in 2012. Jack J. Pelton, who used to lead Cessna, was then chosen as chairman and acting CEO. He later became the permanent CEO. The EAA board felt it was important for the president/CEO to live near the EAA headquarters in Oshkosh.

Local EAA groups, called chapters, can be formed when ten or more EAA members live in an area. These chapters usually meet once a month. The very first chapter meeting happened in California.

EAA Freedom of Flight Award

The EAA gives out a special award called the Freedom of Flight Award. This is the highest honor the organization gives. The award is given each year to people who have helped aviation in ways that show the honesty, creativity, and new ideas that EAA members value.

Award Recipients

Aircraft Associated with EAA

• EAA Biplane
• EAA Spirit of St. Louis replica
• EAA Wright Flyer Model B replica

See also

• Aircraft Kit Industry Association
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
• Tannkosh