The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) was founded on January 26,
1953 in Milwaukee, Wis., as a local club for those who built and restored their
own aircraft. It quickly grew to include anyone who enjoys flying for recreation
and welcomes all aviation enthusiasts to participate. Today, EAA is a non-profit
501(c)(3) corporation (legal name: Experimental Aircraft Association Inc.) that
includes 170,000 members in more than 100 countries.
EAA's mission is dedicated to providing aviation access to all who wish to
participate. As part of that, EAA is committed to: Protecting the
right to fly and own recreational aircraft;
Promoting
opportunities to experience and enjoy aviation;
Preserving
aviation history and heritage;
Preparing for
tomorrow and future generations of aviators.
EAA is governed by a board of directors elected by its membership. That board
elects the association's President, which administers EAA's full-time staff of
approximately 175 employees at its headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In
addition, EAA has chartered approximately
1,000 local Chapters, which promote
local aviation activities in their communities and regions. That includes a
number of international Chapters in Europe, South America and Africa.
A beautiful start to the day for the last day of
the world's
greatest aviation celebration in Oshkosh Wisconsin. 2007
FAST FACTS Headquarters:
EAA Aviation Center, Oshkosh, WI.
Total
international membership: 170,000 (U.S. members: Approx. 150,000)
History: After
its founding in 1953, EAA's first headquarters was located in the basement of
the home of
Paul Poberezny, EAA's President 1953-1989 and father of current
president
Tom Poberezny. The first permanent facility was opened in Franklin,
Wis., in the early 1960s. The organization moved to Oshkosh when the EAA
Aviation Center opened in 1983, along with the new
EAA AirVenture Museum.
Annual dues: $40
True Heroes Visit the EAA Museum
GENERAL CONTACTS
Address: PO Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086
General phone number: 920-426-4800
Web site: www.eaa.org
OTHER ACTIVITIES EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh: The world's largest general aviation gathering, held each summer at
Oshkosh, Wis. The event draws an annual attendance of 750,000 and welcomes more
than 10,000 aircraft from around the world. (www.airventure.org)
EAA AirVenture
Museum: One of the world's largest private collections of aircraft is presented
in this facility, which includes numerous programs throughout the year. There
are also flying activities at the museum's Pioneer Airport each summer. (www.airventuremuseum.org)
EAA Flight AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Young
Eagles: EAA volunteer pilots have flown more than 1 million young people free of charge
since July 1992. Young Eagles is designed to introduce young people ages 8-17 to
general aviation, and to inspire them to discover the possibilities available to
them. Click here
for a link the Young Eagles website.
Aviation
safety programs: EAA's aviation programs, such as Technical Counselors and
Flight Advisors, have been directly credited by the Federal Aviation
Administration for enhancing aviation safety, particularly in homebuilt
aircraft. Click
here
for a link to the safety programs.
SportAir
Workshops: Multi-day sessions are held throughout North America, helping people
learn the skills needed to build or restore their own aircraft. Click
here for a link to
SportAir website.
Aircraft
tours: Each year, EAA flies several of its aircraft to sites throughout the
country, allowing people to discover and experience these unique pieces of
flying history. Those airplanes include a Boeing B-17 bomber, 1929 Ford
Tri-Motor airliner and a "Spirit of St. Louis" replica. Click
here for a tour of the B-17.
Youth
education programs: EAA prepares the future of flight through its youth
education outreach, including the annual Air Academy residence camps held in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Click
here for a
link of the EAA's youth education programs.
A clip from AirVenture 2008 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
ONGOING PROGRAMS Government
Representation - EAA focuses its advocacy efforts to protect the right of all
qualified individuals to fly. With staff located in both the Oshkosh
Headquarters and Washington, D.C., EAA can continually monitor legislative and
regulatory activity, which affects the right to fly. Click
here for more
information.
Technical
Counselors - A national network of highly qualified volunteers, who supply
advice and counsel to those attempting to build or restore their own aircraft.
Click
here for more information.
Flight
Advisors - A network of certified flight instructors and other experienced
aviators, who help EAA members match their piloting skills to the airplane they
wish to build or fly. Click
here for more
information.
Education/Outreach
- EAA has several national programs of aviation education and outreach for
people of all ages. Programs include the dynamic EAA Air Academy resident
education experience for young people and Sport Air Workshops, traveling
workshops designed to provide hands-on help to those wishing to build their own
airplane. Click
here for more
information.
Premium Cost
Savings - EAA offers its members strong cost saving programs on items ranging
from aircraft insurance to automobiles, grounds keeping equipment, car rentals
and other goods and services. Click
here
for more information.
