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/323139
2 Vol.3 No.6 / June 2014 I AM VERY PLEASED that our members and volunteers will once again build an airplane during the week of our fl y-in and con- vention at Oshkosh. We have done it in the past, and the One Week Wonder project is a great demonstration of how an air- plane is built. This year we will build a Zenith CH 750 Cruzer in just seven days. Across the hundreds of acres of show ground at AirVenture Oshkosh there will be dozens and dozens of programs teaching people every essential skill needed to build their own airplane. And many forums and seminars will help people restore antiques and warbirds. And still others will instruct owners about how to best maintain and operate their standard airplanes. The week of Oshkosh is one huge educational experience. But I'm getting ahead of myself. A real-time demonstration of how a modern airplane kit goes together is a great educa- tional tool. But before we can educate people about personal aviation we have to wow them. The people who attend the many how-to classes and forums during Oshkosh are already converts. They already own an air- plane or a building project—or plan to buy one soon—and are focused on doing the best work possible. These people are already sold on whatever aspect of personal aviation they have chosen to participate in. However, there are thousands, actually many thousands, of people who visit our fl y-in that are clearly intrigued by aviation but haven't made the commitment to participate. They come to look at the airplanes on display, inspect the new products the industry shows of , and marvel at the skill of the pilots fl ying in the air show. That's why it is crucial that Oshkosh continue to feature the best of all types of private aviation. We can't know exactly what segment of personal aviation the curious but not yet committed visitor is most interested in. Every part of the huge and diverse EAA family needs to put its best foot forward so every AirVenture Oshkosh visitor feels welcome and believes he or she can join in our aviation activity. The one-week Zenith build project is a great example of how we can showcase kit airplanes and the enormous amount of progress they have made. People at Oshkosh can see for them- selves how the modern kit is very complete, needs little in the way of specialized tools and skills, and comes with excellent support from the manufacturer and other kit builders. An Oshkosh visitor can watch work on the Zenith project for a relatively short time and easily grasp how he could build his own kit. I believe the one-week build will "sell" many people on building their own airplane, and after that we will continue with our terrifi c educational programs that teach them the special techniques they need to do so. Similar ef orts happen during Oshkosh in the Vintage area where airplane owners describe the history and restoration and maintenance of their classic airplanes. Visitors can learn what it's like to own their own antique. The Warbirds area also features daily presentations about the airplanes and the people who fl ew them. Nothing could be more ef ective to attract new people to preserving our military aviation history. There are similar programs going on in the light fl ight area and at the aerobatic display. Visitors can learn about the fun of fl ying and then fi nd the specifi c forums and courses they need. The aviation industry does a great job of explaining the value of its products with excellent displays and the entire range of information on what their airplanes and equipment can do. We've all heard the old line about selling the sizzle not the steak. There is some truth in that, but at Oshkosh we do both, and I think we are doing a pretty good job at keeping things in the right order. We have everything necessary to teach people to weld, work with fabric, and carve a propeller, but before that we put on a show that sells that aviation sizzle. TOWER FREQUENCY On the cover: An original GlaStar...the design is celebrating its 20th anniversary at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014. (Photography by Mike Steineke) Show and Then Tell BY JACK PELTON Photography by Jason Toney E A A E X P _ J u n e 1 4 . i n d d 2 EAAEXP_June14.indd 2 6 / 3 / 1 4 8 : 3 6 A M 6/3/14 8:36 AM