EAA Sport Aviation - September 2011

September-
October
Workshops

MEMBERCENTRAL NEWS FROM HQ

HIGHTOWER PROVIDES A LOOK TO THE FUTURE

September 10-11 Bedford, MA Fabric Covering, Sheet Metal, Electrical Systems, Wiring & Avionics, Composite Construction, What’s Involved in Kitbuilding

September 17-18 Prineville, OR Fabric Covering, Sheet Metal, Electrical Systems, Wiring & Avionics, Composite Construction, What’s Involved in Kitbuilding

October 15-16 Oshkosh, WI Repairman (LSA) Inspection – Airplane

October 22-23 Griffin, GA TIG Welding

EAA MEMBERS CAN EXPECT TO see a Young Eagles-style program for adults and a national network of flying clubs, said EAA President/CEO Rod Hightower at his AirVenture forum.

The jury is still out on what the “adult eagles” program will be called, but Hightower noted that many people have told him they learned to fly after the age of 40.

“They are very active pilots,” he said.
“As people get older, they have a little
more time and a little more money on
their hands to pursue a long-held dream.”
Hightower didn’t offer operational
details on the adult phase of the program,
but he said those are not the only
enhancements in store for the Young
Eagles, which has provided 1. 6 million
youngsters with their first flight in a
GA aircraft. Henceforth, the program’s
objective will include “bringing the 77,000
Young Eagles we fly each year through
certification,” Hightower said. “We have
not paid a lot of attention to that in the
past. Now we will focus attention on
helping them all the way through [pilot]
certification.”
Hightower’s plan to establish flying
clubs comes from his four years living
in Europe. Clubs would provide more

Rod Hightower talks with members about EAA’s future during his AirVenture forum.

pilots and potential pilots with access to
more aircraft at a more affordable cost, he
said. The program will start with creating a
flying club at EAA’s Oshkosh headquarters.
“We have a bunch of airplanes. Let’s put
them into a flying club,” he said. “Establish
a safety management system for the
operation, and maintain the operation.
We’re in the process of doing that.”
Hightower noted many of EAA’s 900
chapters would be potential candidates for
establishing flying clubs.

Hightower also announced that EAA Sport Aviation magazine, traditionally only available to members, is being distributed through selected pilot shops. “It’s an important opportunity to expand, to take our world-class magazine out to the marketplace,” he said.

October 22-23 Frederick, MD Van’s RV Assembly

GATHERING OF EAGLES DOES IT AGAIN

See the complete list of all our workshops at SportAir.org/workshops/index.html

AVIATION LEADERS, WORLD-RENOWNED

celebrities, and those with a shared concern for aviation’s future once again made the annual EAA Gathering of Eagles fundraising gala a tremendous success.

Major highlights this year included an exclusive preview of film icon George Lucas’ latest project set for release in 2012, Red Tails, about the famed Tuskegee Airmen; the first-ever appearance together of all five past and present chairmen of the Young Eagles program: Cliff Robertson, retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, Harrison Ford, Sully Sullenberger, and Jeff Skiles; and a $400,000 winning bid for Ford Motor Company’s one-of-a-kind 2012 “Blue Angels” Mustang.

The event raised about $2 million to support Young Eagles, youth education and experience programs, AirVenture Museum, and other EAA programming to help create the next generation of aviators.