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/134623
H o m e b uil d e r 's C or n e r Your 'New' Community Manager Happy to be working for homebuilders By Charlie Becker Technically, I'm the "new guy" at EAA. It is funny to say that since I previously worked at EAA for 13 years (1999-2012). During that time I had many opportunities to improve EAA's homebuilding offerings (see sidebar listing), but it was never the main focus of my "job description." So when EAA approached me about returning as the homebuilt community manager, I couldn't turn it down. How could I pass up the chance to devote my energies to serving the homebuilt movement? Thankfully my wife, Theresa, was willing to move back to the frozen tundra; without her support, I wouldn't be writing this intro. (Chapter 186 in Manassas, Virginia, and Chapter 252 in Oshkosh). I've owned a number of different aircraft over the years, mostly older taildraggers because they are affordable and fun to fly. I own and fly, along with a couple of other guys, a Sonex that we built and for which I hold the repairman certificate. I'm an EAA technical counselor and FAA Safety Team representative. My current project is what I call a Pirate Cub. Basically, it is a scratchbuilt knockoff of a Super Cub. Paul Poberezny has been storing it for me since last summer, but I'm now ready to start working on it again. (www.Facebook.com/PirateCub). To me, homebuilding is what EAA is all about. Don't get me wrong; I really enjoy the history of warbirds, I'm a fan of ultralights, I've owned several different vintage aircraft, and it's fun to do some light aerobatics. But to be able to build your own aircraft—to innovate, create, and bring one more aircraft into this world is something truly special. It is an activity that Paul Poberezny and EAA grew from nothing more than a group of builders in Milwaukee into a worldwide movement. I'm here to work on your behalf, so feel free to contact me at cbecker@eaa.org. I'm always looking for new Hints for Homebuilders, interesting projects to feature, and ideas to develop. Together, we can continue to grow EAA and the homebuilt movement! For those who don't know me, let me fill you in on a few details. Fourteen years ago I turned my aircraft building hobby into my career by coming to work for EAA. I'm a private pilot with 600-plus hours in my logbook. I've been to every Oshkosh since 1994, and I've served as a chapter officer for more than 10 years 4 Vol.2 No.6 / June 2013 Some of my previous work at EAA • • • • • Developed the Hints for Homebuilders video series Established the Webinars series Produced the Amateur-Built Certification Kit Created online Aviation Calendar of Events Managed workshops, forums, and Homebuilders HQ at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh from 1999 to 2012 • Directed TIG Welding: Chromoly video • Edited Sheet Metal Building Basics book • Introduced and organized SportAir Workshops