Who is EAA? (was Oshkosh gate...)

No, the writer is the one that comes up with the ideas and expresses them in
a manner that is somewhat understandable. The editor puts them into a form
that is consistent with style, grammar, and punctuation.

Both are absolutely necessary to the process; if you can find both of them
in one individual, you've got a rare bird indeed.

Jim


"W P Dixon" wrote in message
...
Seems like that would make the editor the writer ,huh ?

That's a question that I've been mentally rasslin' with for a few years
now. Who **is** the reason for the EAA? Is it JUST Experimentals as the
name of the organization implies? Are the warbirds a part of it only
because the founder of EAA flew warbirds or are they an intrinsic part of
it due to the nature of keeping a beast flying for which there are no
readily available parts?

Jim, as you know, I tend to get emotional about EAA. I love the
organization with all my heart, but would gut parts of it with my bare
hands, if I could.

Without EAA it's doubtful that my life would have taken the turn(s) it
has -- all of them good. I've attended the fly-in for 23 consecutive years,
have visited the museum often, use their website weekly, read their email
updates every couple of days, and have belonged to two local chapters.

When I was a wannabe pilot (for, like, the first 35 years of my life) EAA
filled the void between "want" and "ability." I lived vicariously through
all the performers and exhibitors at OSH for all those years, and read the
magazine voraciously each month. EAA kept my dream of flight alive, when
nothing -- and no one, not even me -- believed that I would ever achieve it.
For that, I owe EAA my life -- almost literally.

On the other hand, from a business standpoint, they have repeatedly
disappointed me. They are completely inflexible with what is and isn't
allowed at the fly-in, to the detriment of their members, and what they
charge to get on the grounds prevents many small businesses from getting a
toe-hold. Their corporate side completely dissed us when we first opened,
when I contacted them about offering EAA members a discount at our aviation
theme hotel. They didn't even reply, at first -- and when they *did* reply
it was with almost complete and utter disdain. For some reason my
willingness to GIVE their members something was met with a "who gives a
****" attitude that has left a bad taste in my mouth to this day.

Although I continue to offer my fellow EAA brethren the discount, fool that
I am. :-)

Who is EAA? My God, if it had been limited to only home-builders, as some
here would suggest, I'd still be walking the streets instead of soaring in
the clouds. If the articles in Sport Aviation were all about bucking rivets
and building elevators, my interest would have faded away long ago. As
much as I love building things -- my main hobby before flying was
wood-working -- I have NO interest in spending the next 5 years of my life
in an unheated hangar every night, watching my friends flying off to their
weekend getaways. After wasting my first 35 years on the ground, looking
up, I have NO intention of spending any more time than necessary on terra
firma. Life is about flying for me, now.

So who is EAA? I suspect there are an awful lot of guys like me out there,
who love flying, owe EAA an un-repayable debt of gratitude -- yet will never
build an airplane. (And let's not forget the small -- but vocal! --
minority of women pilots out there. Mary would NEVER have learned to fly
without EAA's annual dose of Oshkosh excitement .) Should they be
excluded?

Perhaps the question isn't who is EAA, but rather, where do you want to take
it as a director? If you want EAA to grow and prosper, you're going to
have to take the "Big Tent" approach, IMHO, and welcome ALL aviation
enthusiasts. Each of us brings something to the table that can be used by
other members, whether it's extra hands at a fly-in breakfast, writing
articles for the newsletter, or the knowledge of how to install wing ribs
properly.

If, on the other hand, you want it to be exclusive -- literally -- to
homebuilders, be prepared for the organization to shrink dramatically. In
our chapter(s), only 10 - 20% of the members ever touched a tool, so the
clubhouse might get a bit lonely without the rest of us around.

Without that other 80%, could EAA support the museum? Could EAA support
Airventure? Clearly, I believe, the answer is "no" -- and I would hate to
see those two things go.

My children already dream about OSH every winter, Jim, just like we do --
and I want it to be there for them. Please be careful what you do with our
beloved organization. It's a living, breathing thing that could be easily
harmed -- or killed -- by taking the wrong approach.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay ...

I understand that absolutely and completely, which is why I asked the
question in the first place. Before I go down some road that is anathema to
an interest group(s), I wanted validation of my thought process. That is
what is happening here ... I heard some say that the reason for the
organization was "experimental", as in the first word of the name. I wanted
to understand if the majority of the lurkers and posters here thought that
was, in fact, the case. If that WAS the case, I would have thought
seriously about withdrawing from the race because I believe, as you, that
the tent should be enlarged to accomodate all who want to fit in, and not
shrink to only include those chosen few who have had the good fortune and
skills to personally build their path to the sky. I am one with Lyndon
Johnson in that he wanted everyone inside the tent [spitting] out than
outside the tent [spitting] in.

I also believe that there should be some sort of breeder reactor for new
aviation businesses -- local government calls it an "incubator". Whether
that is some reduction in the space rent for the first year of display only,
or a special section set aside for the newcomers, whatever. I remember
vividly RST's first venture into the commercial tents (yes, they WERE tents
back in those days) and knowing full well that if we didn't sell as per our
forecasts that we would be out of business before we got back home. I
further believe that to diss a business out of hand that wants to offer the
membership some sort of a special deal isn't my way of winning friends and
influencing people.

I'll post my platform in these ngs in the next couple of days.

Jim



My children already dream about OSH every winter, Jim, just like we do --
and I want it to be there for them. Please be careful what you do with
our beloved organization. It's a living, breathing thing that could be
easily harmed -- or killed -- by taking the wrong approach.

I hope that you also include the sistren

{;-)


Jim


Although I continue to offer my fellow EAA brethren the discount

Although I continue to offer my fellow EAA brethren the discount

I hope that you also include the sistren

You betcha!

I've tried to advertise a "Ladies-Free" night at the inn, but Mary keeps
taking the sign down...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In article ,
"RST Engineering" wrote:

John ...

That's a question that I've been mentally rasslin' with for a few years now.
Who **is** the reason for the EAA? Is it JUST Experimentals as the name of
the organization implies? Are the warbirds a part of it only because the
founder of EAA flew warbirds or are they an intrinsic part of it due to the
nature of keeping a beast flying for which there are no readily available
parts?


No need to wrestle with that question. The EAA, like all good
organizations everywhere, has a mission statement:

"EAA - the Experimental Aircraft Association - is dedicated to serving
all of aviation by fostering and encouraging individual participation,
high standards and access to the world of flight in an environment that
promotes freedom, safety, family and personal fulfillment."

"all of aviation" pretty much answers the question.

I'd personally rather have an organization that is restricted to
homebuilding. I joined my local chapter, found it attended by about 50
members, and learned that none of them are building an airplane. I'd
rather sit on a park bench and chat with two actual builders than sit
around listening to WWII stories. But, I wasn't around to vote when EAA
drafted its mission statement.

"Smitty" wrote in message
news
In article ,
"RST Engineering" wrote:

John ...

That's a question that I've been mentally rasslin' with for a few years
now.
Who **is** the reason for the EAA? Is it JUST Experimentals as the name
of
the organization implies? Are the warbirds a part of it only because
the
founder of EAA flew warbirds or are they an intrinsic part of it due to
the
nature of keeping a beast flying for which there are no readily
available
parts?


No need to wrestle with that question. The EAA, like all good
organizations everywhere, has a mission statement:

"EAA - the Experimental Aircraft Association - is dedicated to serving
all of aviation by fostering and encouraging individual participation,
high standards and access to the world of flight in an environment that
promotes freedom, safety, family and personal fulfillment."

"all of aviation" pretty much answers the question.

I'd personally rather have an organization that is restricted to
homebuilding. I joined my local chapter, found it attended by about 50
members, and learned that none of them are building an airplane. I'd
rather sit on a park bench and chat with two actual builders than sit
around listening to WWII stories. But, I wasn't around to vote when EAA
drafted its mission statement.

FWIW: I've been to three different EAA chapters. One had about 20 people
in attendance, and probably 8 planes under construction. Another had
probably 40 people with zero planes under construction. The third had at
least 60 people, and at least 20 planes under construction.

Smitty wrote:

I'd personally rather have an organization that is restricted to
homebuilding. I joined my local chapter, found it attended by about 50
members, and learned that none of them are building an airplane. I'd
rather sit on a park bench and chat with two actual builders than sit
around listening to WWII stories. But, I wasn't around to vote when EAA
drafted its mission statement.


I'm with Smitty. I stopped going to the local chapter meetings. There
just wasn't anything there that would help my project along, and I found
the constant 'oohs' and 'aahs' over expensive commercial planes and big
metal military equipment a little hard to stomach. I haven't noticed
very many other builders there the few times I have gone.

Not to discount Jay's sentiment, but the EAA has become an aviation glee
club, but I want to play ball, not sit on the sidelines. I'd be happy
if the biggest flyins still had only one tent, if that. Small tents
with normal people telling how they create airplanes with limited
resources. The cheering section isn't needed, or desired.

The high-dollar tool vendors with their glitzy overproductions are also
optional. Hell, anybody can create a masterpiece with enough money to
spend on tools. It takes a special type of person to create a perfect
bend with a couple 2x4s and a few door hinges.

The airshows? Distracting and purposeless, except to demonstrate a
building technique or design. As they are...pure useless fluff.

But, heh. That's just me.

--
This is by far the hardest lesson about freedom. It goes against
instinct, and morality, to just sit back and watch people make
mistakes. We want to help them, which means control them and their
decisions, but in doing so we actually hurt them (and ourselves)."

Jay, as a long time lurker, I have to agree with much/most of what you
said. EAA allowed me to live vicariously for many years before I could
afford to start building. I too read every magazine cover to cover.
While I've managed to start a project, regular 2 year moves due to my
career + children have put it on hold. On the other hand, I have
finally reached the point where I can afford to own and fly a plane and
am the proud owner of an experimental that was lovingly created by
someone else. I understand others feelings - let it be for builders
only. That said, I hope they understand that the great mass of us who
have not started/completed a project admire and respect them for their
accomplishment and that the EAA lets us support what we all feel is a
wonderful sport. I'm a big tent proponent and believe that it allows
us to foster and support the dreams of the many and the reality of the
few.
Jeff

Jay Honeck wrote:
That's a question that I've been mentally rasslin' with for a few years
now. Who **is** the reason for the EAA? Is it JUST Experimentals as the
name of the organization implies? Are the warbirds a part of it only
because the founder of EAA flew warbirds or are they an intrinsic part of
it due to the nature of keeping a beast flying for which there are no
readily available parts?

Jim, as you know, I tend to get emotional about EAA. I love the
organization with all my heart, but would gut parts of it with my bare
hands, if I could.

Without EAA it's doubtful that my life would have taken the turn(s) it
has -- all of them good. ...

My children already dream about OSH every winter, Jim, just like we do --
and I want it to be there for them. Please be careful what you do with our
beloved organization. It's a living, breathing thing that could be easily
harmed -- or killed -- by taking the wrong approach.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"