EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the recreational aviation organization that began in 1953 as a group of individuals dedicated to grassroots aviation, has surpassed 250,000 members for the first time.
Reaching 250,000 members marks a membership growth of 25% in the past five years, including through a pandemic that found a significant number of people look to flight training and aircraft building as the fulfillment of a personal dream, according to EAA officials.
“EAA’s founder, Paul Poberezny, created a culture nearly 70 years ago where anyone who wished to enjoy the freedom of flight was welcome to participate, and our mission of growing participation in aviation has thrived under that vision,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO/Chairman. “The dedication of EAA’s members, chapters, and staff have made it possible to grow the organization to new levels. I thank every EAA member who has contributed through the years and found value in being a member, as EAA began as a small group of builders and restorers but quickly grew into an organization that engages everyone who enjoys the world of flight.”
Pelton added that EAA continues to grow its offerings to its core of builders, restorers, and pilots, while also meeting the challenges to aviation’s future that range from regulatory matters to increasing the number of young people in aviation.
“General aviation has grown increasingly complex over the past 70 years, but EAA’s goal has been to find ways to break down the hurdles in as many places possible to nurture that dream that has always been a part of human imagination – the desire to fly,” Pelton said. “We are eagerly anticipating where that dream takes us in the years to come, whether it’s through EAA chapters and programs, through the innovations of our members, or with partners who bring a combined strength that allow us accomplish more than we could individually.”