Part II of this series featured a group of people: Flight Instructors.
In Part III, we honor an individual—Paul Poberezny, the founder of EAA. Ryan Keough, who writes a blog, contacted me through twitter.com and suggested Paul. If you’d like to make a suggestion for this series, click on Comments at the bottom of this article or send me an email.
officially stepping down from his role as Chairman of EAA. He is succeeded in that role by his son, Tom Poberezny, and EAA is now searching for a new President. Paul founded EAA in 1953 and for many years ran the membership using file cards at the kitchen table. Fifty-six years later, EAA has 170,000 members in 105 countries.
Like many, Paul was bitten by the aviation bug at an early age. By the age of 16, he’d restored a Waco primary glider and taught himself how to fly. Since then, he’s logged more than 30,000 hours in more than 500 aircraft types, including more than 170 homebuilt aircraft. He’s also designed 15 airplanes and has several more aircraft projects underway in his shop.
Aviation's Premier Event: AirVenture
Last year, Paul received the Seymour Cray Award for Distinction in Technology. After being introduced to the audience, he said
"Over the years, I've learned more about people than airplanes.” That’s not surprising from a man who knows most of what there is to know about airplanes, but also created one of the largest aviation events in the world: AirVenture.
AirVenture is more than an event; it’s a state of mind. It’s one of the few things in life that vastly exceeds expectations. Attracting more than 500,000 attendees to Oshkosh, Wisconsin each year, it’s run by more than 10,000 volunteers, many of whom give up their vacation time and work for free at AirVenture. If you’ve never attended, you must make a commitment to go there. It truly represents the best of everything that aviation has to offer. Paul organized the first Fly-In in 1953 at Curtiss-Wright Field in Milwaukee. As the event grew, it moved to Rockford, Illinois, before reaching it’s permanent home in Oshkosh in 1970
As the leader of EAA, he also spent countless hours speaking to lawmakers and regulators to defend the rights of amateur aircraft builders. Under his leadership EAA provided much of the innovation and lifeblood to general aviation, particularly during the dark years from 1986 to 1997 when Cessna was not producing piston aircraft.
While perhaps best known for founding EAA, Paul also had a distinguished military career. His career as a military pilot spanned nearly 30 years, and included serving in World War II, Korea and as a test pilot. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
I talked with Paul at AirVenture 2008 and he told me a story which conveys a little of the impact AirVenture makes in the lives of people. He said a man once came up to him and told him how, as a child, his family went to AirVenture every year and that Paul had been an inspiration to him throughout his life. It turns out that the man was a 2-star general. Great story.
Paul is a true General Aviation hero who has created a world-class membership organization and aviation event. His vision and leadership have inspired many others in their achievements. We thank him for his service.
So who are your General Aviation heroes? Please post your thoughts in the comments section below or send me an email.
General Aviation Heroes
Part I - Clyde Cessna
Part II - Flight Instructors
Part III - Paul Poberezny, EAA Founder
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