Reaching
a Broader
Audience
Stearman fly-in celebrates 39 years
THIS MONTH, EAA SPORT AVIATION welcomes an aviation icon to our
editorial staff—J. Mac McClellan. Mac was editor-in-chief at Flying
magazine for many years and is considered one of the most respected
aviation journalists of our time.
You may ask, “How does Mac McClellan fit with EAA?” My short
answer: Magnificently! To understand why I say that, it’s important
that you know some facts about our
membership. For example, 75 percent
of EAA members are aircraft owners;
61 percent own type-certificated,
production aircraft, according to our
Survey of the Average Aviator (see p. 46).
You probably already know of
Mac’s expertise in bringing the
latest information regarding aircraft
ownership, flying experiences and
techniques, weather and the latest
cockpit technology to aviators
who use airplanes for personal
transportation. In Sport Aviation,
he will continue to do so under his
longtime Left Seat column title, and
he will be a regular feature writer
for the magazine, as well as for our
e-publications and website.
What is less known about Mac
is that he is “one of us.” Mac is an
active participant beyond his column topics. He has attended
AirVenture every year for most of his adult life, and he enjoys
airplanes of all types. For several years, Mac wrote a guest
column for AirVenture Today, the convention’s newspaper,
and during AirVenture Oshkosh 2010 he wrote a daily news
column for the newspaper and e-Hotline. He understands EAA’s
unique place in the aviation community and our organization’s
important role in general aviation’s future.
As we implement EAA’s vision to provide a broader and
deeper coverage of aviation, including the subjects you tell us
ROD HIGHTOWER
COMMENTARY / TOWER FREQUENCY
you want more information about—flying
techniques and better piloting skills—Mac’s
experience and involvement is a welcome
addition toward meeting that goal.
I’m excited about Mac contributing to
EAA as we reach even more of the diverse
aviation community and grow aviation
through participation. Welcome aboard, Mac!
STEARMANS OVER GALESBURG FOR THE 39TH YEAR
In this issue you will read about a unique
aviation happening—the National Stearman
Fly-In, better known among Stearman pilots
as “Galesburg.”
Sport Aviation is looking to provide our
members and aviators even more in-depth
coverage of fun and interesting events taking
place in the exciting world of aviation. I’m
happy to welcome you along this month as
we explore one of the most active groups of
fliers you’ll ever meet.
For a magical week each September, more
than 100 Stearman biplanes from across
the country gather in Galesburg, Illinois,
to enjoy the camaraderie, competition,
and aviation lifestyle that has to be
experienced to be believed. As a Stearman
owner, I’m admittedly a little biased, but
there’s something for everyone at this
event, whether it’s competitions such as
flour bombing, spot landing, aerobatics, or
formation flight, the fly-outs to Wolford’s
grass farm strip for a country lunch, or the
pre-dawn launching of dozens of beautiful
Stearmans for the Dawn Patrol.
And guess what else? There are no airport
fences to prevent the many children and
families from getting up close and personal
with airplanes and aviators. How cool is that?
I hope you enjoy the journey through our
pages this month as much as we have enjoyed
bringing it together for you.
