Experimental Aircraft Association

In 1953, a group of individuals gathered in Milwaukee to have a friendly chat about building airplanes. That conversation launched the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), an organization that is still very much aloft, with roughly 200,000 worldwid  members.

No time is spent idling on the tarmac with this group, who have spent decades updating and expanding their mission and participating in all features of aviation, including manufacturing or refurbishing any aircraft, from antiques to warbirds to helicopters.

This crew covers much more than the mechanics of soaring endeavors. They gather for the camaraderie and the grassroots energy that is still felt among them. Inspiring new participants is an important wing of the group, an ambition fueled by public event and active outreach.

The EAA is perhaps best known for annually hosting the AirVenture Oshkosh One Week Wonder, which has become one of the world’s largest gatherings of aviation aficionados. Often simply referred to as “Oshkosh,” it takes place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, attracting thousands of vessels and hundreds of thousands of devotees to enjoy air shows, workshops, and unceasing chatter about flying.

The only requirement for membership in EAA is a passion for the spirit of aviation. If you possess this, and are seeking like-minded enthusiasts, then perhaps plan your summer vacation in Oshkosh to meet kindred folk who believe the sky is truly limitless—and who may be equally inclined to put their nose in it.

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