EAA Sport Aviation

TOM POBEREZNY

COMMENTARY / POSITION REPORT

Your Aviation
Friends

Planes, people, and passion

IN MY APRIL COLUMN I SHARED with you my favorite airplanes. But aviation is more than planes; it’s about people, too—our friends, family, and mentors who compose our aviation circle. While I love flying and enjoy being up there alone, more importantly I want to share my flying experiences with others.

When we think about flying and airplanes, we often think about
our aviation friends who are special to us. Let me state the obvious…
aviation has been a part of my family as
long as I can remember, so I’ve shared
the joy of flight with my father and
close family members.
Meanwhile, my wife, Sharon,
married into aviation. She wasn’t
involved in flying until we met. She
likes to tell the story of our third date
when we flew a T- 6 to Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin, for lunch. I strapped her
into a parachute, showing her how
to use it. She looked at me strangely
but didn’t say anything. On the way
back we did loops, rolls, and a few
hammerheads. The cockpit canopy
rattled the whole way! Again, she didn’t
say anything after we landed, but she
realized this is what life was going
to be like if we stayed together. Little
did she know we would make aviation
friendships that would last a lifetime.

Beyond family, who are the people you share your aviation
interests with? Did they serve with you in the military? Did you
meet them at work? Or are they social/recreational friends? Are
your friendships with one person or the entire family?

For me, the list of aviation friends is long, but a couple of them come to mind. Gene Soucy and his dad, Paul, gave me my start in aerobatics. Even though Gene was younger than I, he was my mentor. He was an accomplished aerobatic pilot, a hotshot teenager who was winning all the top aerobatic awards in the early 1970s. He was young, but he had the patience to work with me, providing

guidance that served me well as I worked
my way up the aerobatic competition ladder.

When we started flying air shows, Charlie Hillard joined Gene and me, and all of us became close friends. But Charlie was more than a friend; he was a mentor of a special kind. I observed what he did and how he did it, and mirrored his actions. Though Charlie is gone now, his friendship is still very much alive.

Sharon and I have many good friends outside the aviation community, but our best friends are those we have met through aviation. We share a common interest that leads to lifetime friendships, even though we may see them only a few days or few weeks a year.

Deep friendships develop from the camaraderie within military service. Men and women who serve together, in both stressful and good times, form a bond. This year, an important part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the “Salute to Veterans.” Every family has at least one veteran who has served their country on a global basis. We are honoring military personnel throughout Oshkosh week with special programs and outstanding speakers. The week will be a time for veterans to renew those deep friendships.

Salute to Veterans is co-hosted by EAA, Warbirds of America, and the Disabled American Veterans. One of the highlights is the appearance of Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, performing on Friday night, July 30, for thousands of EAAers and guests at Theater in the Woods. Please be with us and join us in extending our thanks to all veterans.

Over the last couple of months I’ve tried to encourage you to think about what flying means to you…why you fly, what are your favorite airplanes, and what makes your aviation friends special. Summing it up, we fly because of passion. Our favorite airplanes are the objects of our involvement. People bring out the passion within us, making the experience unlike anything else.