70 Years of Dreamers and Doers

EAA celebrates its platinum anniversary

BY SAM OLESON AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

SEVENTY YEARS AGO, on January 26, 1953, EAA was officially founded. That first meeting took place in a classroom at Gran-Aire Inc. at Curtiss-Wright Airport (now Timmerman field) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with 36 pilots and aviation enthusiasts in attendance. Over the past seven decades, EAA headquarters has moved a few times and the annual members convention and fly-in has shifted around, but one thing has remained the same — the organization’s dedication to spreading The Spirit of Aviation. As we celebrate EAA’s platinum anniversary at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, each day we’ll share highlights from a different decade of our history.

The 2000s

July 2000: NASA’s Super Guppy debuts at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

program reaches 1 million flights when

15-year-old Andrew Grant of German Valley, Illinois, is given a flight. Approximately 35,000 volunteer pilots helped EAA reach its ambitious goal.

September 2004: The new sport pilot/ light-sport aircraft regulations become effective. The regulation changes are the culmination of a decadelong effort by EAA to create new pilot and aircraft certifications devoted exclusively to recreational aviation.

March 2009: Paul Poberezny retires as EAA’s chairman of the board. Tom Poberezny is appointed the new chairman.

June 2009: The Founders’ Wing in the EAA Aviation Museum opens, which includes a re-creation of the basement of Paul and Audrey Poberezny’s home in Hales Corners.