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/149316
To w e r Fr e q u e n c y It's Time to Celebrate By Jack Pelton It's time for Oshkosh, the best week of the year. And, as always, we have many reasons to celebrate our love of all things that fly. instead of shrinking. People are so dedicated to preserving flying history that restoration projects once thought to be impossible are now almost routine. During the rest of the year it's easy for me, and I'm sure you, too, to become bogged down by the steady drumbeat of bad news and threats to personal aviation from all corners. And at EAA we are always on guard to protect our freedom to fly and to keep personal aviation accessible to as many people as possible. But at Oshkosh, during AirVenture, is the time to recognize just how successful we have been. Even the standard category airplanes nearly all look their best. No airplane owner wants to fly to Oshkosh without first washing and polishing his airplane and making it look as good as it possibly can. All pilots who fly to Oshkosh take immense pride in their airplane and their accomplishments as pilots no matter what they fly. From the beginning EAA Founder Paul Poberezny recognized how important it is for us to get together, so the annual EAA fly-in and convention is as old as the association itself. Paul instinctively knew that people want to show off the results of their hard work and imagination. Paul didn't need to invent a new concept to get the EAA fly-in started. It's as natural as a county fair where people gather at harvest time to see who produced the best steer, grew the largest pumpkin, or raised and trained the fastest horse. It's the same at Oshkosh. I hesitate to call them amateurbuilt because the workmanship in most homebuilts that fly to Oshkosh is truly professional. I marvel at the craftsmanship and attention to detail most builders achieve. I know a thing or two about how difficult it is to build airplanes both big and small and am blown away by the achievements of members who fly their creations to Oshkosh. It's the same for the antiques and classics in the Vintage area. Many airplanes on display are simply better than new because no factory assembly line could lavish the same level of attention aircraft restorers lovingly apply. And in the Warbirds area I'm constantly impressed that the number of flyable rare airplanes is actually growing On the cover: Just Aircraf's SuperSTOL displays its talents (Photography courtesy of Just Aircraf) 2 Vol.2 N o.8 /August 2013 In 1975 Tom Poberezny was named chairman of the Oshkosh fly-in. Tom understood more than anyone that the prospects for growth in the event were enormous. He knew that people wanted to bring aircraft of every type to join the party. And after he convinced British Airways to bring a Concorde to Oshkosh in 1985, we all knew everything was possible. Under Tom's leadership Oshkosh became the place to show the aviation world anything and everything that was new and noteworthy. The Voyager flew at Oshkosh before circling the globe, but then nearly all Apollo astronauts made the trip here, too. Fleets of warbirds fly in every summer, and so do gaggles of very light aircraft. And the aviation industry plans its new product introductions to make a splash here where the largest number of aviation enthusiasts can see the new stuff first. Yes, there are many issues that personal aviation must contend with. And, yes, we need some luck with the weather and this year we truly lucked out! Oshkosh is the envy of all other aviation events. Nothing matches its size and scope and ability to attract anything that flies. Oshkosh is aviation's greatest party, and I hope you enjoyed it to the fullest; I certainly did. If you weren't able to join us, you can relive the week online at www.AirVenture.org/live.