Real World Solutions, Inc

Home of RA Classic Apex Seals and RA Super Seals

Editorial: Oshko$h '97

By Tracy Crook. Originally published in the Rotary Aviation News Issue 4, 1997

As usual, Oshkosh was a week long total immersion into aviation that I always look forward to. This year’s trip had the additional mission of participating in the 25^th anniversary of Van’s Aircraft. It was 1972 when Van first flew his RV-3 to Oshkosh.

Van has been encouraging RV flyers to attend this year in the hopes of having 250 RVs fly in. That goal was considered pretty optimistic but they were already arriving in droves by the time my RV-4 landed on Tuesday, a day before the official start of the show. The last count I heard was 287 which broke all records for attendance by a single type.

Everyone was probably getting tired of the typical RV flyer’s attitude by the end of the week. Around other aviators, RV drivers frequently wear a subtle, self-satisfied grin which seems to say “If you haven’t flown an RV, you just don’t understand.” It doesn’t even matter what the other guy is flying. He might pull up to the ramp in a P-51 Mustang and that arrogant RV driver will look at him the same way! I personally feel that self-important people are a bore but I found myself wearing the same stupid expression at times. Those RVs really are good airplanes!

Bigger & Better?

As an organization grows to the size that EAA has, it is inevitable that some of the charm it had in the early days will be lost. The EAA is serving many functions which are vital to us as aviators. I support them and urge you to do the same.

I am concerned about the growing perception among the membership (me included) that EAA’s major focus is turning inward. Yes, I am aware of all the outreach programs (Young Eagles etc.) they have instituted but sometimes I can’t escape the feeling that it is mainly aimed at empire building and any benefit to the general member is incidental. Does this sound similar to a common complaint about our fearless leaders in Washington DC?

There was a lot of grumbling at Oshkosh, this year but I’m not really all that concerned about the constantly rising prices at major fly-ins. The five dollar program that used to be free with admission isn’t going to break me either. And if the hokey jet powered truck demonstrations get John Q Public out to spend money at Oshkosh that’s fine with me too. What does bother me is that the defining spirit of the EAA (helping the ordinary man or woman realize their dream of flight) seems to be getting lost in the pursuit of financial growth. In marketing it is said that you sell the sizzle, not the steak. But if I read one more article in Sport Aviation about an airplane whose only claim to fame is a flawless paint job, I’ll be tempted to turn vegetarian.

Don’t stand too close to me….

On a subject dear to my heart, Paul Poberezny used to write some very encouraging editorials about the need to develop alternative engines. The words were very welcome but EAA does very little to actively encourage this. One of the rare exceptions was an award made for best auto conversion at Sun ‘n Fun this year (Ford V-6 installation). But what I would like to see is the addition of an alternative engine category to the aircraft judging at all EAA fly-ins. This wouldn’t cost anything but the resulting competition & visibility would result in much progress I’m sure. From the low visibility they give it, I can only assume that EAA does not want to be closely associated with alternative engine development. They even dispensed with the sign which designated the Auto-powered section at Oshkosh this year. Several people walked down the whole row of auto powered planes and asked me where they were.

None of this carping means that I don’t support the EAA. I just don’t want it to lose it’s soul, even if it means not growing quite so fast.