Experimenter

JAN 2013

Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.

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L i g h t P l a n e Wor l d Te members of the EAA Ultralight/Light Plane Council gathered for this photo before the 2012 Hall of Fame ceremonies. Lef to right, they are: Scott Severen, Dan Grunloh, Jim House, Carla Larsh, and John Hovan. We started 30 years ago with ultralights "down on the Farm" among the horses and cows at Ollie's farm, but we have added light planes, light-sport aircraft (LSA), balloons, and electric aircraft. This year we will have more charging stations for electric aircraft, and more actual electric flight than, well, anywhere! Our area is the zone of excitement, youth appeal, and future growth. The cows and horses are gone. We have turbine helicopters now, and the folks who plan signage at the convention site feel we need a new name. I'm pulling for the "Fun Flying Zone." New Members Added to Ultralight & Light-Sport Council Scott Severen and I have been invited to become members of the EAA Ultralight & Light-Sport Aircraft Council. The council members, led by Carla Larsh, are volunteers who meet and provide feedback and advice to EAA on issues related to ultralights and LSA, and to help with planning for the ultralight area at the convention. Scott brings a tremendous amount of expertise to the group, thanks to his extensive involvement in the ultralight and light-sport industry since it began in the early 1980s. The Ultralight Council, along with other EAA advisory councils and 42 Vol.2 No.1 / January 2013 various boards of directors, gathered at Oshkosh for several days of meetings in November. In the first session of the first day, EAA Founder Paul Poberezny paid a surprise visit to our conference room and sat down for a conversation with our small group. Now 91, he sets a standard for the rest of us. He continues to stay involved, working and inspiring others. Paul said the key to success is focusing on the people side of aviation and that EAA Board Chairman Jack Pelton will be a good person to guide EAA through the next transition. Later that morning Jack also visited the council, and I came away with the feeling that here was a person that people would be willing to work for and with. It's clear he hasn't forgotten his roots in sport aviation. He and his dad built a wood and fabric Fisher FP-101 back in California (30 years ago), and he flew it. Later he became CEO of Cessna, and now retired, is an EAA volunteer. During our two-day conference the Ultralight Council met with Timm Bogenhagen, Chad Jensen, Sean Elliott, Mary Jones, Mac McClellan, museum staff, and many others. Our meetings were a steady stream of issues and discussions, thanks to the organizing skills of Carla Larsh.

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