Experimenter

May 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.

Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/126719

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H o m e b uil d e r 's C or n e r Volunteers… AirVenture wouldn't happen without you By Rick Weiss, Chairman, EAA Homebuilt Aircraft Council The spring flying season appears to be off to a good start, at least by the activity observed at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Florida, in April. By the time you read this, we'll be less than 100 days away from the start of the largest aviation gathering on the planet. EAA staff planning is well underway, and has been for some time, to identify the areas on the ground that require additional attention, to complete construction of permanent venues such as additional new, air-conditioned restrooms, to prepare the grounds to alleviate trouble areas for aircraft taxiing, and to select and schedule air show performers, among other things. To accomplish putting on the most diverse and greatest aviation gathering in the world, the EAA staff, which numbers about 120 people, must rely on its most important asset—EAA volunteers. Nearly 5,000 volunteers are involved in ensuring that EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is run safely and smoothly without incident. This has become a part of life for many EAA members. They are the ones who step up and perform virtually hundreds, if not thousands, of tasks that must be done to park and register nearly 10,000 airplanes and make sure that the 700,000 or so attendees can experience the EAA adventure we call AirVenture. The homebuilt aircraft community is fortunate to have a large share of volunteers. They can be seen parking aircraft, registering and providing transportation for visiting pilots from the parking area to homebuilt aircraft headquarters, judging aircraft, recording live Hints for Homebuilders videos, and providing hundreds of educational forums and hands-on workshops for aircraft builders. Still other volunteers can be found moving aircraft in and out of the Homebuilt Aircraft Hangar for detailed presentations, which provides visitors with the opportunity to see unique aircraft up close and personal. Volunteers are also involved in staging aircraft for flight as they pass in review during the week. There are other folks who, because of their extensive and unique experience, volunteer to speak at homebuilt aircraft gatherings, such as the Technical Counselor and Flight Advisor Breakfast and the annual Homebuilder's Dinner. Still more volunteers step up to lead the homebuilt aircraft's "feet on the ground" support team by serving on the Volunteer Chairmen's Committee, and of course, the members of your Homebuilt Aircraft Council are volunteers. More volunteers step up to chair and lead every individual tactical area that is required for the homebuilt community to run safely and smoothly at AirVenture. There are also volunteers to assist other volunteers by providing sandwiches and drinks for those who are unable to take time to find lunch. Every volunteer is special and treasured by EAA. As you have surmised by now, it takes a lot of volunteers to prepare and operate all those activities so that attendees can enjoy the outstanding experience we call AirVenture. As a year-round volunteer, I can assure you the paid staff at EAA is extremely grateful for all who volunteer and help make our annual convention the success that it is, helping EAA be the outstanding organization that it is. From one volunteer to another, thank you for all you do! I'll look forward to seeing you at AirVenture 2013 on July 29 through August 4. On the cover: Te Pazmany PL-4A restored by Ron Wright and Greg LePine. (Photography by Greg LePine) 2 Vol.2 N o.5 / M ay 2013

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