See you later E!

[Bill Palmer]

EAA New Direction and the Experimenter

I just finished listening to EAA Radio including excerpts of interviews with Rod Hightower and Mac McClellan. My personal ?take-aways? were:

1. EAA is now really the GAA (General Aviation Association) which reflects the current EAA member composition in which E-AB is a minority.

2. E-AB will continue to be an important part of EAA (GAA), but not the sole focus.

3. Sport Aviation now has articles to cater to all of its members proportionally rather than being primarily focused on E-AB. Also, there are an increasing number of articles on common-interest topics such as safety, government issues, cockpit devices, etc. (Flying magazine with some E-AB added?)

4. The E-AB focus will be increasingly served by online resources; both EAA and non-EAA (like VAF). Mac stated that a new, monthly, free Experimenter magazine will be available online, with e-mail notification, starting in September. It did not sound like the Experimenter would be in the form of a downloadable file (.pdf) which several of us would like to see, though. I could not discern whether or not the Experimenter will continue to be funded and officially sponsored by EAA (GAA). I assume it will be.

These were just my personal ?take-aways? from the EAA Radio interviews. Maybe Chad will jump online and provide us with more, and better, information and perspectives. By the way, Chad, if you?re reading this, I really liked your Sport Aviation report on the Onex!

 

[N130PM]

I remember back in 94 being told I was a "piker" cause I had a pre-drilled spar wing kit. Heck I could even borrow the big squeezer from Van. I miss the old days too. But we are up against the EPA and whoever the 100 entities are that will be flying drones (pop up TFR's). Don't jump ship unless you have a better boat.

 

[Ramendala]

i though???

snip
We are planning some big changes to the homebuilders area on the grounds. No, not shoving them off to the back, but changes that will bring the area more "Front and Center" as a main gathering area that will center on the homebuilders hangar. These won't be made in the next few months for this years show, but our five year plan has some great big plans in place for some great stuff in the future.[/I]

The canard section was moved south towards the ultralights and been replaced by VIP tents. Boomerang was not allowed to be parked at Aeroshell..I mean ConocoPhillps Plaza.

If that is a sign, the RVs are next

What changes are coming next year? I heard a ton more grumbling after the show this year about people not renewing memberships.

Some companies go where the money is, others make themselves "the flame". I hope the EAA can find the balance, because soon the money becomes the ultimate dictator and squeezes out everyone else. Instead of Airventure it will become Conoco Venture or Chase Adventure

Ryan

 

[KTM520guy]

While i had a great time at Airventure i did think the home builder section was pretty thin. Confidence is low for it ever getting any better.

 

[9GT]

I'm done with it. That money I spend every year renewing my "membership" will buy me about 8 gallons of 100LL for about 1.5 hours of flying fun in my C-152.


[ed....


Not everyone may know this, but recently I adjusted the VAF posting rules to ask that posts concerning what the AOPA, EAA, etc should or should not do to improve/drive away their members be taken over to their respective forum sites. As for EAA, here are links to some relevant threads being actively discussed:

http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?1554-EAA-Direction-(split-from-website-feedback-thread)
http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?2478-Attendance-down-this-year
http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?2516-EAA-Annual-Meeting
http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?214-3.00-for-a-bottle-of-water!-EAA-should-be-ashamed.
http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?2515-Wish-list-for-Airventure
http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?2497-Airshow-complaints-(obstructed-views-and-loud-music)

There is a push by many to get some more 'homebuilt' back in EAA. As long as those discussions are taking place on the EAA site, I'm more than happy to put a little blurb on the front page occasionally to send the RV crowd over there. Not every VAF reader is an EAA member and the EAA is made up of lots more than RVs (warbirds, vintage, ultralight, and more).

VAF is just RVs, so I ask the EAA discussions take place over on their site. The EAA folks will see your suggestions/complaints much quicker.

fmi: www.eaaforums.org

Thanky,
dr ..........]